Seattle Advances Search for New Police Chief
Mayor's office reports more than 40 qualified applications have been received for the permanent chief position.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Seattle mayor's office has advanced its search for a permanent police chief after former chief Shon Barnes departed about three months ago. More than 40 qualified applications were received by the end-of-October cutoff, including both internal and external candidates.
Why it matters
The search determines who will lead the Seattle Police Department after a leadership vacancy, with the city's residents and officers both affected by the outcome. The process also reflects how the city is gathering input from the community and the department before selecting its next chief.
The search has received more than 40 qualified applications, and the advisory committee will advance top candidates to a competitive examination later this month. Which candidates will advance and how the examination will be scored have not yet been disclosed.
The players
Mary Yu
Retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice who co-chairs the advisory committee for the Seattle police chief search and lives in West Seattle.
Shon Barnes
Former Seattle Police Chief whose departure about three months ago opened the current search for a permanent successor.
The details
The advisory committee, co-chaired by retired State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, is reviewing applications and gathering input through an internal survey and meetings with SPD members. No open-to-the-public listening sessions were held in West Seattle, though individual meetings were held with three community organizations there.
Timeline
End of October 2026: application cutoff for the police chief search.
Later in November 2026: competitive examination of top candidates.
December 2026: final interviews with Mayor Wilson.
Within the next few months: final police chief selection expected.
Legal Context
Seattle's current search follows the advisory-committee and competitive-examination model the city has used for past police leadership selections, in which an appointed panel screens applicants before the mayor conducts final interviews. The process places the city's chief selection within its ongoing efforts to rebuild community trust in the Seattle Police Department.
Residents of Seattle, including West Seattle, will be affected by who leads the police department in the coming months. Community members who want input may follow the process as candidates advance through the examination and interview stages.
The takeaway
The Seattle police chief search shows how the city is combining an advisory committee, internal SPD surveys, and targeted community meetings to shape a major leadership decision. Residents who want to follow the outcome can track the examination and interview stages as the timeline moves toward a final selection.
What happens next
The advisory committee will advance top candidates to a competitive examination later in November, with final interviews with Mayor Wilson planned for December and a final selection expected within the next few months.
Further reading
For more on how local departments are run, see Law Enforcement coverage across the city.
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