# Seattle mayor orders independent review of public communications after Bite of Seattle shootingSeattle Mayor Katie Wilson has requested an independent review
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has requested an independent review of how public information was shared following the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle on July 26.
The mayor asked the city's Office of Inspector General to conduct an after-action review of the timeline of public communications following the shooting, identify any delays and their causes, and recommend improvements to coordination and communication protocols during future critical incidents.
Wilson directed all city departments and offices involved in the response to cooperate fully by providing records and participating in interviews.
"In the aftermath of a community tragedy like the gun violence at the Bite of Seattle, it's essential for government agencies to come together and assess our actions, evaluate critical functions like communication between departments and with residents, and provide the public with a transparent and robust review," Inspector General Lisa Judge said in a statement.
Judge said the Office of Inspector General has already begun examining the timeliness and effectiveness of communication between responding agencies and the community during and after the shooting. She said the office hopes to complete its work this fall so the city can quickly identify lessons that could improve future emergency responses.
"The people of Seattle deserve timely, accurate information after major public safety events, and I want to understand clearly how the process can be improved," Wilson said. "The Inspector General's office is the right entity to conduct this review, and I am directing every department to give them full cooperation."
Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles said the department supports the review.
"The members of SPD are committed to transparency and to continuous improvement," Sayles said. "We will cooperate fully with this process and welcome the Inspector General's assessment."
The Office of Inspector General will provide its findings to the mayor's office and the Seattle City Council's Public Safety Committee. The final report also will be published on the agency's website.
The review is expected to be completed by mid-December.
