After the success of last week’s town hall meeting hosted by the Bainbridge Island Police Department, Police Chief Matthew Hamner said the community can expect more opportunities for open dialogue.

But if only there was a way for folks to revisit what they might of missed last week.

“For me, this was my first one (on Bainbridge) — and we should have taped it,” Hamner said.

Over the two-hour exchange, Hamner and Lt. Chris Jensen heard from residents on topics ranging from mental health to better communication between police and 911 operators.

The goal of the meeting, Hamner explained, was to build some kind of dialogue with the community.

By the end, participants had more than just answers to their questions and concerns, but also an appreciation for the improvements in the department over the past year and the department’s willingness to reach out to the community.

Several residents brought up the friendliness they have encountered passing officers on the street, whether they’re waving from their cruiser or saying hello in town.

“There’s a cohesiveness that I feel wasn’t there before,” said Linda Thurrott, the manager of Best Western Plus Bainbridge Suites. “They’ve really deescalated so many situations.”

During the meeting, Thurrott brought up a recent incident where a mentally disturbed customer caused trouble at her business by refusing to put on his clothes.

Police were dispatched to the hotel, and, she explained, she was impressed at their immediate ability to calm the man and bring order back to her establishment.

She went on to thank Jensen for attending a workshop hosted by Kitsap Mental Health earlier this month.

Thurrott’s comments opened the discussion to the community’s role in mental health and law enforcement.

Hamner asked the participants to take an active role in supporting their neighbors and community to help mitigate issues before they become problems.

“It’s not just a criminal justice issue,” Hamner explained. “It’s a community-wide concern. If you wait until it gets to law enforcement, it’s a crisis.”

Hamner said that the meeting was partly a healing process as well as a chance for the police department to keep in touch with their community.

For future town hall meetings, he plans to have the discussion recorded so that those who are not able to attend the meeting can still tune in.