Bainbridge Police Chief Horn to remain interim chief

By Brian Kelly • March 11, 2019 2:00 pm
Bainbridge Police Chief Jeff Horn talks to an island resident last year during a session of the “Coffee with a Cop” program. (Brian Kelly | Bainbridge Island Review)
Bainbridge Police Chief Jeff Horn talks to an island resident last year during a session of the “Coffee with a Cop” program. (Brian Kelly | Bainbridge Island Review)

Bainbridge Island Police Chief Jeff Horn will stay on as interim head of the island’s police department through August.

City officials said Horn, who moved up from deputy chief to chief following the departure of Matthew Hamner in January for a job in Banning, California, will continue to serve in his post for the next six months.

Horn said recent talks with City Manager Morgan Smith resulted in his interim status being extended to August.

At the end of the six-month period, Smith will decide whether Horn will stay on as chief or if the city will conduct a search to fill the position permanently.

During the six-month period, Sgt. Scott Weiss will serve as the acting deputy chief. Officials said the arrangement will ensure that Horn has the ability to fully focus on the role of chief.

Horn said that if things work out as hoped, he would like to eventually be considered to stay on as police chief.

“I am interested,” Horn said.

Horn joined the Bainbridge Island Police Department in the second-in-command post in August 2014.

Previously, he had worked alongside Hamner for 20 years in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

He completed his training at the Indianapolis Police Department’s Training Academy in February 1995, and has worked as a patrol officer, neighborhood resource officer, field training officer, accident investigator, sex crimes detective, sex crimes detective sergeant, field supervisor, training instructor and training supervisor.