Long email kind of shorter...The other night our officer responded to a possible DUI, determined it was a medical issue and requested aid. He ensured his vehicle was moved to a position where it would shield the driver and her vehicle, as well as provide protection for the aid crew who would be arriving. He activated his emergency lights, exited his older model patrol vehicle and began providing traffic control. Not to insult anyone's intelligence...he simply did everything he was trained to do, what was expected of him and something every patrol officer has done countless times while on patrol.

Fortunately for the elderly female, as well as the aid crew, the nameless officer remained attentive to his surroundings and observed a drunk driver accelerate from Naval Avenue and drive directly toward his patrol vehicle. At this moment in time, three aid crew members were positioning their gurney between his patrol vehicle and the female's vehicle. The officer utilized his God-given command voice and alerted the aid crew, allowing them just enough time to dive out of the way. The impact of the collision drove his patrol vehicle more than 15 feet pinning it to the gurney and the female's vehicle.

The point...every shift we encounter 'routine' calls for service and we must fight the urge to drop our guard, push our auto pilot button, coast and relinquish control to the circumstances that surround us. Many shifts come and go, and we experience brain lapses and are fortunate to move on without consequence. The actions of the officer not only saved our partners at Bremerton Fire & Rescue and Olympic Ambulance from serious, if not fatal injuries, but they demonstrated the BPD value of being a leader by simply doing our job while remaining alert and reacting.

Officer Prouse once again proved that God made Police Officers, so Firemen would have Heroes. Well done, Officer Prouse. I would like to recommend you receive a new SUV as an extension of our gratitude!

Welcome Officer Kasey Barnes-Trask

Our newest officer, Kasey Barnes-Trask, graduated from the police academy on March 27, 2019. He is a life-long Kitsap Country resident, graduating from Klahowya Secondary School, where he excelled in school, soccer and football. He now continues his training in the Field Officer Training Program. This is where he will learn to apply his academy training to actual situations in the street under the tutelage of experienced police officers. We expect great things.

L to R - Chief Burchett, Officer Kase Trask and FTO Coordinator Sergeant Todd Byers.

How things got done back in the day - or - Better to ask forgiveness.

From former K9 handler and current Warrants Officer Dave Boynton:

That old Chevy Malibu that I got for my first K9 car was navy blue. However, the paint on the trunk and hood started to peel. It looked like a New York taxi cab. In 1984, Officer Dave Hughes did a lot of vehicle restoration and had a paint shed at his parent's house. I told then Lt. Larry Foster that since the Kitsap County Fair was coming up, I really didn't want to put that car on display to the public with its peeling paint. I told Lt. Foster that Dave and I could paint the car for about $120. Lt. Foster agreed.

Dave and I took the car out to his paint shed, removed the bumpers, prepped it for painting, and then headed to the auto store to get paint. Dave Hughes was looking at all the blue, trying to find a match for the navy blue. I was looking at the silvers, which I thought would look real cool with black lettering. Hughes asked, "If we're going with the silver paint, shouldn't we get permission first." I said, "No, I'll just ask for forgiveness." So, we painted it silver and put on the black lettering and got it all ready for the fair. This was the afternoon before the Fair started. I called Lt. Foster and told him the car was done. He told me to stop by his house, so he could see it. As I drove up, both Larry and his wife Bev came out of the house to look at it. All Bev could say was, "It looks great." All Larry could say was, "Yea, but its silver." I told him not to worry about it. Larry just shook his head and walked back into the house mumbling something about K9 officers.

Wednesday morning at the Fair, K9 Bo and I did the first demo. In the crowd was Police Chief Don Cundiff's wife. After the demo, Mrs. Cundiff came up to me and told me what a nice demo it was and that she loved the color of my car. She had been telling Don that he really needed to go away from that navy-blue police cars. I of course told her, "Thank you. Glad you like it." As she walked off, the other K9 officers asked me who she was. I told them and that they can expect Chief Cundiff to be by in about 30 minutes, as he was working at the Police Department's Crime Prevention booth.

What did the five fingers say to the face? SLAP! 

An Uber Eats driver stopped by Shari's to pick up an order and was accosted by a local transient asking for money. When the victim declined, the suspect slapped him in the head. The victim called 911 and watched as the suspect walked across Wheaton Way toward Goodwill. Officer Brock Gorang contacted the victim while Corporal Bryan Hall located the suspect. As he was detaining him for the first assault, another victim came up to report the suspect had kicked him as he was getting into his car. Apparently, this fellow wasn't happy that no one would donate to the cause. Slappy had a warrant to boot (no pun intended) and went to jail where if he tries to spar with someone, they'll probably fight back, and he won't like the results. [Sergeant Jeff Schaefer]

Assault 1 DV

A wonderful day in Seattle for a couple ended poorly with the boyfriend's arrest for DV Assault with a knife.

After spending the day enjoying the City and too much alcohol, the couple's day took a turn when the boyfriend refused to pay for his girlfriend's ferry ride back to Bremerton. A heated argument ensued when the girlfriend's request for space was not granted. The arguing continued as they exited the ferry and a concerned citizen called 911 when they observed the verbal become physical.

Both parties were contacted, and both refused to be a victim. The parties were delivered home in separate taxis with the promise of reconciling after their blood alcohol content reached a more reasonable level.

The tranquility ended in less than an hour. As the girlfriend was talking to her step-father on the phone, the call abruptly ended when the boyfriend entered her residence unannounced and uninvited. The step-father called 911 requesting a welfare check on his step-daughter.

Officer Prouse arrived and located the boyfriend's vehicle parked in the driveway. When he walked to the front door, he observed (through the large glass front door) a male pinning a female to the floor while holding a knife above her. Officer Prouse quickly updated incoming units and swiftly opened the dead bolt with his boot. After a few loud and confident verbal commands, the male dropped the knife and was taken into custody. [Sergeant Jeff Schaefer]

Welfare Check turns into Felony Warrant Arrest

Officer Jared France responded to a welfare check in the 600 block of Highland Avenue. The caller reported two gentlemen unconscious in a car who looked "doped out". The caller also advised that the two were there yesterday and left drug paraphernalia behind. They apparently parked across the street from a known drug house as well. Officer France contacted the two males and ran their names. One of them had a felony warrant for Escaped Community Custody with no bail. He went to jail and the other was released at the scene. The lesson is to not fall asleep in your car across the street from a known drug house when you have a felony warrant. [Corporal Mike Nelson]

Residential Burglary. No, it's not a burglary. He's allowed her in the past, just not right now!  

Graveyard responded to a burglary in progress where the victim saw a male walking around her house. Officers George and Guiney arrived on scene. The front door was open along with a side door. Officer George found a male hiding behind a hedge and detained him. All good, right? The "suspect" was identified and it turned out that the caller knew him. She said they have a child in common. They had talked earlier in the night about him coming over, but she did not think he was going to show up at 3 am. She did not think he was going to let himself in. She did not want the guy arrested and said he could stay. Some people just don't believe in knocking I guess. [Corporal Mike Nelson]

Assault 2nd At the Foot Ferry

Gold 1st Watch responded to an assault at the Bremerton Foot Ferry around 1030 hours. When officers arrived, they found a male who had been badly beaten. The suspect left on foot but was located and detained. The victim had serious injuries from being kicked in the abdomen several times and was transported to the Harrison Medical Center. Medics suspected the victim may have internal injuries. The suspect said he only kicked the victim twice for stealing his "artwork" which he described as stick figures glued together with shells for the heads. The suspect was arrested and booked for Assault 2nd with $100,000 bail. Officers later viewed the video of the incident and confirmed the assault was much more violent and relentless than the suspect described. [Corporal Mike Nelson]

Pando-freakin-monium

Officer Guiney was minding his own business while conducting random and unpredictable patrol when a Ford Thunderbird came screaming into the intersection on Oyster Bay Avenue at Kitsap Way. It was as if the driver was auditioning for Fast and Furious 12 or whatever sequel they're up to now.

Officer Guiney reported that the Thunderbird came peeling around the corner...backwards, spun around 180 degrees and came to rest on the sidewalk next to the Chevron. Meanwhile, an old beater of a Chevrolet Blazer rolled up to the scene as if it had been chasing the T-Bird.

The driver of the Thunderbird got out and screamed at Officer Guiney that the Blazer just rammed them. As the Blazer took off up Russell Road toward Bay Vista, Officer Guiney yelled at the Thunderbird driver to wait there while he took off after the fleeing vehicle.

Officer Guiney was initially unable to locate the Blazer. When he returned to the Thunderbird, it was now parked behind the Chevron unoccupied. Inspection of the Ford revealed a pistol partially hidden under the seat.

The vehicle was impounded, and Corporal Nelson applied for a search warrant which was granted since the owner of the Thunderbird is a convicted felon. The gun was recovered along with drugs.

The Blazer was later found at Bay Vista Summit unoccupied. No telling who was driving that. [Sergeant Jeff Schaefer]

Mysterious Marauder

Officers were mobilized for a burglary at a local apartment building. A resident called 911 to report she awoke to a person in her bedroom. She yelled at him to get out and then called  911. Officers arrived and detained the man. They discovered he was high or drunk or both. The victim had no idea who he was and realized she forgot to lock her door. The suspect couldn't, or wouldn't, shed much light on the matter. So, he was booked for criminal trespass. No word on if he even resides in the area. 

When he was searched incident to arrest, it was learned he had flown into SEATAC within the last forty-eight hours. Maybe he was visiting family members or partying with friends...but no one claimed him and hopefully his stay in Kitsap will be comfortable, possibly not memorable. [Sergeant Todd Byers]

Here's a tip: Don't steal tips.

Officer Gorang and Corporal Hall were dispatched to the Family Pancake House for some thievery. Restaurant staff reported a guy came in, and as the hostess was seating him, he swiped a few bucks in tip money off a table as he walked by. Another patron reported this to staff. When confronted, the suspect left.

Officer Gorang spotted the man across the street and detained him. Corporal Hall reviewed restaurant surveillance video and confirmed the man swiped the money.

The suspect denied taking the money. However, he did say that he could only be cited for theft because that's how they do it in Seattle. Got news for you, sir, this is NOT Seattle. We arrest people here. He went to jail, but not before calling Officer Gorang a robot.

Maybe that's why Officer Gorang arrests ten people a week. Maybe he's a cyborg. How could the county let that guy get away? [Sergeant Jeff Schaefer]

My calendar didn't say it was order violation day

Officer Clevenger was summoned to a domestic dispute where the caller was anonymous. He arrived and determined although there was no assault, an order had been violated during the incident and the suspect took off before the police arrived.

Meanwhile, Corporal Hall was nearby and spotted the respondent trying to act all incognito by pulling up his hood, but to no avail. He was contacted and arrested. When he went to handcuff him, Corporal Hall noticed the man's hand was bleeding. So, off to the hospital they went. The suspect said he cut his hand when he broke a window back at the house.

 

Four hours later, Officer Clevenger booked the guy into jail with a patched-up hand and some new tools to help him from the crisis staff at the hospital.

Order violation number two.

Corporal Polonsky was dispatched to a domestic assault going on in front of Bay Vista Summit. A witness heard a car skid to a stop out front, peeked out her window and saw a male passenger pummeling a female driver. So, she called 911.

Corporal Polonsky contacted the victim who already had a blackened eye from the assault. She said the perpetrator was a guy whom she is protected from in a no contact order. She confirmed that he punched her and took off running down the street to a friend's house.

Containment was set-up with a few officers near the friend's house. While Officer Faidley and Esco responded, we were fortunate enough to have two Special Operations Group detectives around in their low-key cars. Just about the time Esco arrived, the suspect emerged from the house and tried to run. I guess he didn't realize that there were plain clothes cops in the area because he got blindsided by the blitzing linebacker Detective Jordan Ejde. Game over. Corporal Polonsky booked the man for a bevy of charges including felony order violation.

Watershed Visitor

Many people are unaware that Bremerton has its own watershed. It is closed to the public to protect the water resource. The Bremerton Police, along with the Water Department and Forestry Division, patrol the watershed to make sure there are no trespassers. This of course can be a little boring, you be the judge...Corporal Vertefeuille captured this stunning image of Bigfoot while working in the watershed the other day. Apparently, he is real!

Paradise Disturbed

A citizen's peaceful evening was disrupted when a stranger randomly chose her apartment from all the other options at the Cedar Park Apartment complex. Initially, the person walked away when she did not respond. However, he returned and attempted to push open the door with a dead bolt. When he realized he could not enter, he began conversing with himself as he played his favorite music on his cell phone.

When officers arrived, they contacted the visitor. They soon figured out he introduced something into his system that probably will have a long-term ill health effects, but he seemed happy. Officers remained with him as he summoned his Uber, tracked its approach, giggled, mumbled, and talked to imaginary friends all while singing "Gangsta's Paradise." Currently, paradise is somewhere in King County because that is where he said he was heading. [Sergeant Todd Byers]

Harassment with a Pickaxe

Gold Watch responded to a neighborhood dispute. The reporting party (RP) told Sgt. Garrity they had parked their car in a location that their neighbor did not like. The neighbor was doing yard work and was using a pickaxe. The RP said the male became angry and threw the pickaxe at them. He said, "Next time, I'll throw it at your head!" Not very nice, huh? It turns out the pickaxe landed about 20 feet from the caller. You just can't make threats like that. A report was forwarded to the prosecutor for review of Harassment Charges. [Corporal Mike Nelson]

DUI traffic stop by Medic 1

Traffic Officer Steven Forbragd responded to a DUI driver that was driving badly, Medic 1 used their emergency lights to stop him. The driver was contacted by the medics to keep him from driving. They saw the driver drinking from a bottle of liquor. The driver was so intoxicated that Officer Forbragd opted to not have them do SFST's for their safety. The BAC reading was .398 and a .406! After being cleared medically at Harrison Medical Center, she was booked for DUI. Remember, .08 is the legal limit. The experts say at a .40 blood alcohol content the person is unconscious. [Corporal Mike Nelson]

Jim Burchett, Chief