Seattle Police Cancel Interview with Chief, Release Travel Records Amid Shooting Scrutiny
The Seattle Police Department canceled a planned interview with Chief Shon Barnes, opting instead to release his 2026 travel and residency records following scrutiny over his absence during the 'Bite of Seattle' shooting and a nearly five-hour delay in public briefings. Records show Chief Barnes was attending a conference in Dallas during the shooting, lives in Seattle, and has taken multiple professional trips this year, which the department defended as essential for recruitment and public safety innovation. City officials denied claims that Sunday's briefing was delayed while waiting for politicians, stating officers were managing an active scene, while the department maintained its main focus is investigating the shooting and holding suspects accountable. 
