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Seattle Police Chief Ducks Interview, Admits Frequent Travel Outside City
Seattle Police Chief Cancels Interview Amid Questions About Travel During Deadly Shooting
What Happened?
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes was supposed to talk to KOMO News reporters on Wednesday. He wanted to explain:
- Why he wasn’t in Seattle during a deadly shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday
- How much time he spends traveling outside the city
But 30 minutes before the interview, his office called it off. Instead, they shared parts of his calendar from late March through July.
The Shooting That Started It All
Important Point: On Sunday, gunfire broke out at the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center. Three people died and several others were hurt. Chief Barnes was in Dallas, Texas at a conference when it happened.
After the shooting:
- There were hours of limited public information
- The city did not send an emergency text alert to people at Seattle Center
- Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis led the first official news briefing — about 5 hours later
What the Calendar Shows
KOMO News counted the days from the calendar records. Here’s what they found:
| Type of Absence | Number of Trips | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Work Conferences | 7 | Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Dallas, +1 more |
| Personal Trips to Chicago | 4 | Chicago (where Barnes has family) |
| Medical Appointments | 2 | Dental procedure + medical appointment (this week) |
Total: Close to 50 days when Barnes was not working from his Seattle office between late March and July.
Note: Some of those days were weekends or travel days. The calendar doesn’t say if Barnes was working remotely during those times.
What the Calendar Doesn’t Explain
- Why Barnes attended seven conferences in just a few months
- How he balances all this travel with running Washington’s largest police department
- The exact purpose of each trip
- Discrepancies in the dates for his Chicago trips (KOMO asked about these — no answer yet)
Who’s in Charge When He’s Gone?
The calendar shows an Acting Chief is named for every absence:
- Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis was Acting Chief on Sunday
- He led the first formal briefing after the shooting
How Travel Is Paid For
- Conference trips: Paid by the police department (sometimes conference organizers help cover costs)
- Chicago trips: Barnes pays for these himself (personal family visits)
The Chief’s Defense
At a Tuesday news conference, Barnes strongly disagreed with the idea that he’s always gone:
"I don’t travel as often as I would like to. I think any reports that I’m gone every weekend are grossly misstated."
He also said his passion for the job is "in full display, especially if someone is questioning my work ethic or my integrity."
Times He WAS in Seattle
The calendar shows Barnes stayed in Seattle during:
- The city’s World Cup matches
- This week’s Seafair events (he’s scheduled to be there)
What Questions Remain Unanswered
Because Barnes canceled the interview, these questions weren’t asked:
- Why did he choose to go to the Dallas conference that weekend?
- Did his absence affect the city’s response to the shooting?
- What about the discrepancies in his Chicago travel dates?
- Why weren’t calendar records provided before late March?
Summary
- Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes canceled a planned interview about his travel schedule.
- He was in Dallas at a conference when a deadly shooting happened at Seattle Center on Sunday (3 dead, several injured).
- Calendar records show he was away from his Seattle office nearly 50 days in 4 months (7 conferences + 4 personal Chicago trips).
- Acting Chiefs are named during his absences — Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis led the initial response.
- Barnes denies being gone "every weekend" and defends his work ethic.
- Key questions remain about conference necessity, Chicago date discrepancies, and whether his absence impacted the shooting response.
FAQ
Why does it matter where the Police Chief was during the shooting?
The Police Chief is the top leader of the department. When a major crisis happens — like a mass shooting — people expect the chief to be on scene or immediately available to make big decisions and communicate with the public.
Is it normal for a police chief to travel this much for conferences?
Police chiefs do attend conferences to learn new strategies and network. But seven conferences in four months is considered a lot by many experts, especially for the leader of a major city department.
Who runs the department when the chief is away?
An Acting Chief is appointed — usually a high-ranking assistant chief. In this case, Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis served as Acting Chief during the shooting.
Did the chief’s absence delay the emergency alert?
We don’t know for sure. The city did not send an emergency text alert for hours. The first official briefing was about 5 hours after the shooting. Whether the chief’s absence played a role is one of the unanswered questions.
Who pays for the chief’s travel?
- Work conferences: Taxpayers (the police department budget), though sometimes conference organizers cover part.
- Personal trips (Chicago): Chief Barnes pays out of his own pocket.
