Should Seattle’s Top Cop Call Seattle Home? Cast Your Vote

Questions are being raised in Seattle after the sad shooting incident over the weekend at the Seattle Center.

We Want Your Opinion: Should Seattle’s Police Chief Live in Seattle?

Seattle’s Police Chief Shon Barnes is being called out by a reporter for the fact that he keeps an apartment in Seattle, but his main residence is in Chicago.

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The city is under scrutiny as information on the Seattle Center shooting wasn’t readily available, and it took the city’s officials hours and hours to update the public on the situation.

Barnes was out of town attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives conference in Texas and had to fly back early. Records indicate that Barnes has attended seven events thus far in 2026.

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The full list of dates when the chief was in Chicago, as noted by SPD, is as follows, according to an article from KUOW

• Feb. 4 – 10
• March 13 – 16
• June 20 – 21
• July 9 – 13

So, with seven conferences and those other dates, some would say the Chief of Police wasn’t available. In defense of the Chief, other chiefs also attended a schedule of conferences similar to those over the years.

Take our poll. I’m not taking a side, but I’m curious about what you think? If you are a high-profile public servant, should you live in the city they serve? Take the poll below.