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Seattle police chief Shon Barnes is getting $700,000 in a settlement for leaving the department, PubliCola has confirmed. (bsky.app)

submitted 1 day ago by velma@sh.itjust.works to c/seattle@lemmy.world

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That's almost two years' salary for Barnes, who is also getting to keep a $50,000 hiring bonus intended for rank and file officers, which he received after former mayor Bruce Harrell hired him last year. Police officers have to return the bonus, on a prorated basis, if they leave before five years.

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[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Transcript:

EXCLUSIVE: Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes was asked to resign by Mayor Katie Wilson on Wednesday, just hours after his office was asked about a federal tax lien filed against Barnes and his assets, including his Chicago-area home.

The Post Millennial obtained Cook County, Illinois records showing the Internal Revenue Service filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against Barnes and Stephanie Dance totaling $86,841.14. The lien, recorded on March 11, 2025, "on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayers," lists Barnes' residence in Park Ridge, Illinois, where his family has continued to live throughout his tenure as Seattle's police chief.

According to the filing, the lien stems from unpaid federal income tax assesments for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Earlier Wednesday, the Seattle Police Department was contacted seeking comment on the federal tax lien. The department did not respond before Barnes was asked to resign later that day.