(The Center Square) -Although former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes served only 18 months in office, he’s taking away a lucrative severance package worth around $700,000 as questions remain about his departure. As a new budget year approaches, Seattle is already facing a $175 million deficit, and city departments have been asked to propose personnel cuts. Barnes' package includes a lump-sum payment equal to 18 months of his salary, which comes out to over $560,000. Barnes did not appear at the Sunday night press conference after the shooting because he was attending a law enforcement conference in Dallas. On Monday, during a second press conference, Barnes did appear but got into a shouting match with a reporter over how much time he spent in Seattle.