Seattle taxpayers paid more than $100k hiring former SPD chief Shon Barnes

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(The Center Square) - Seattle taxpayers paid more than $100,000 in hiring and relocation incentives to recruit Shon Barnes as police chief, according to his contract obtained by The Center Square.

In addition to a $361,862 annual salary, records obtained reveal that he was paid an additional $50,000 hiring incentive along with a $60,000 relocation benefit. His contract required that he work for the city no less than five years or else pay back that hiring incentive:

“If you should leave Seattle Police Department employment before five years of completed service, the hiring incentive must be paid back to the City on a pro rata basis as calculated against the five-year commitment.”

Barnes resigned after just 18 months on the job. The Center Square reached out to Mayor Katie Wilson's Office requesting an interview to discuss the contract and if he was allowed to keep the hiring bonus as part of a $700,000 severance package, but did not receive a response by time of publication. 

Barnes’ hourly pay, $173.30/hour, is one cent below the maximum of the authorized pay for his role. Additionally, the annual salary was significantly above the $347,944 found in the original job posting, with the minimum salary of $217,444. 

Former SPD Chief Carmen Best was initially paid $285,000 and eventually $294,000. Adrian Diaz was paid $265,000. Kathleen O'Toole was paid $273,275 in 2016

Barnes was hired in January 2025 by then-Mayor Bruce Harrell and resigned four days after the July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting that left three people killed and four people wounded. Although some individuals have been arrested, one suspect remains at large.

The aftermath proved controversial after both a police debriefing and media press conference was delayed by several hours following the shooting. After the press conference, Barnes got into an intense verbal argument with an independent media reporter who inquired about why he was out of town at the time of the shooting.

Barnes at the time rented an apartment in Seattle but had residency in Chicago. He was in Dallas attending a conference the day of the shooting.