During today’s shooting, and currently, Seattle police chief shon Barnes was out of town. He had planned to be out of the city until mid-August. @ericacbarnett.bsky.social on Bluesky

Erica Barnett, reporting that SPD’s chief is at home (in Chicago) instead of heading up the response to today’s shooting at Seattle Center.

During today’s shooting, and currently, Seattle police chief shon Barnes was out of town. He had planned to be out of the city until mid-August.

Barnes’ family residence is in Chicago and he rents here while making frequent trips home and out of town in general. Ive reached out to SPD; during past emergency incidents when he’s been elsewhere, they’ve told me it’s no problem because of his qualified staff.

Barnes makes around $370,000 a year. He has repeatedly been out of town, at events in other cities or at his family home in Chicago, during emergencies like today’s mass shootimg.