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Operations Division
Operations Division officers are frequently the 1st to respond to calls for service throughout the city. They are the most visible police presence in our community and it is their job to provide primary law enforcement services to the citizens of Bremerton 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
These services include response to crimes in progress, crime investigations, and other calls for service including emergency and non-emergency. Personnel assigned to the Operations Division are full-time sworn officers trained and certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Operations Division
The Bremerton Police Department’s Operations Division is comprised of 37 commissioned officers on six squads (three Gold squads and three Blue squads) that work 10 hours and 40 minutes per shift. The squads cover three shifts: “day-shift” (6:20am-5pm), “swing-shift” (4pm-2:40am) and the “graveyard-shift” (8pm-0640am). When the Gold squads are working, the Blue squads are on their days off. This schedule allows for overlapping shifts, providing the community with more police officers on the streets during the busiest times of the day. Each squad is assigned a sergeant and a corporal (first line supervisors).
There are four specialty units under the umbrella of the Operations Division – The Directed Enforcement Team (D.E.T.), Traffic, School Resource Officer (SRO) and three K9 units. The K9 units work the 10/40 shifts, and D.E.T., Traffic, and SRO work modified shifts.
Two Lieutenants and a Captain provide command-level oversight of the division.
Geographical Patrol Areas
Working together in shifts, patrol officers are the front line against crime. In an effort to provide better service, the City of Bremerton has been divided into 5 geographical patrol areas consisting of individual neighborhoods located throughout the city. Officers from each shift are assigned a specific area, which allows them to get to know the area, its residents, businesses and any problems unique to that area. Officers respond to radio calls for service and are encouraged to gain knowledge of trends and developments in each neighborhood in their district.
The 5 "beat" areas are as follows:
- West side of Bremerton including Jackson Park and south Kitsap Industrial Area (SKIA)
- West-central: lower west side of Bremerton
- Central: downtown Bremerton
- East-Central: lower east side of Bremerton
- East side of Bremerton
Directed Enforcement Team (DET)
The Directed Enforcement Team (DET) utilizes a variety of tactics and resources to address crime and quality of life issues in the City of Bremerton. The team currently consists of two uniformed officers.
Their approach is community oriented, using proactive police methods to address criminal activity and the impact it has on safety and quality of life for Bremerton residents. DET works in conjunction with citizens and business groups, as well as other department work groups to achieve the desired goal.
DET specializes in short-term investigations to address issues such as, but not limited to:
- Public nuisances
- Street-level crime
- Nuisance abatement/code compliance complaints
- Fugitive apprehension
- Bicycle patrols in the downtown core and city parks and trails
Traffic Unit
The Bremerton Police Department Traffic Unit currently consists of 2 Traffic Officers and 1 Operations Lieutenant. Traffic Officers are assigned shifts to cover high traffic volume periods of the day, school zones and other areas requiring special emphasis. Traffic Officers have specialized training in accident reconstruction and are called out to investigate all serious and fatality accidents occurring within the city.
Statistics
The Traffic Unit works hand in hand with the City of Bremerton's Engineering Department. Speed surveys are conducted and all traffic accidents are scanned into a computer, which generates statistics showing problem areas for speeding vehicles and problem intersections where traffic collisions are occurring.
Traffic Enforcement
The Bremerton Police Department receives numerous complaints regarding speeding vehicles on almost every street within the city limits. We understand the community's concern and make an attempt to address the issues, although staffing issues may affect the level of service that can be provided. Some new programs have been developed through the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission including Click It or Ticket and the Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Program in which we have participated. The Traffic Unit also utilizes 1 day out of each month for training, completing ongoing traffic investigations and conducting emphasis patrols in direct response to citizen complaints.
Emphasis Patrols
Emphasis patrols conducted within the city have proven to be very effective. When staffing is not available to conduct these patrols the Bremerton Police Department utilizes their traffic speed trailer. The trailer can be set up in an area to show the drivers how fast they are traveling and is used as an educational tool to slow drivers down. The use of the speed trailer also frees up officers to respond to 911 and priority calls.
The Traffic Unit also participates in the monthly countywide DUI Emphasis Patrol. This program involves all local law enforcement agencies and is an effective tool at removing impaired drivers from the roadway making Bremerton and Kitsap County a safer place.
Traffic Issues & Citizens Comments
If you have a traffic or pedestrian related issue about a specific street or intersection please report it online. Your information will be forwarded to our Traffic Unit.
K-9 Unit
The Police Department's K-9 Unit currently consists of 3 K-9 teams, 2 tracking teams and 1 narcotics detection team. The K-9 Unit is assigned to the Operations Division of the Police Department.
The K-9 teams assist uniformed officers and detectives by locating suspects and evidence at or near crime scenes. The K-9 handlers also provide protection and backup for our officers and are assigned to shifts to supplement "beat" officers.
K-9 teams also respond to requests for assistance from other local police agencies.
School Resource Officer
Our School Resource Officer is responsible for the safety and security of Bremerton schools, and the surrounding communities, through actions of law enforcement, informal counseling, and law related education.
Through these three actions, School Resource Officers create positive relationships with students, teachers, staff, parents/guardians, community program leaders, community members, and other law enforcement agencies.
These positive relationships can help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the youth of the community. School Resource Officers are role models, a face for the police department, and an example of community-based policing at the highest level.