High-tech equipment from body cams and upgraded tasers will be provided to deputies across Kitsap County this year.

The sheriff’s office will also look into a new sales tax to put additional deputies on the street to tamp down on the rise of violent crimes, Sheriff John Gese said in a recent interview.

Gese, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 32 years, was appointed sheriff in 2021, and last elected to a four-year term in 2022.

Equipment

Deputies will be equipped with body cams to record their interactions with the public. The sheriff’s office is the last local agency to use of body cameras. “This brings us up to the current best practices and meets the standards for accountability and transparency,” Gese said.

“The deputies supported this and wanted the cameras. They feel it will capture what happens out there and protect them from false accusations. They will also provide more accurate details and recordings of events as they transpire,” the 63-year-old sheriff said.

The body cams – expected to start rolling out in the first quarter of the year – also will provide evidence in the courtroom. “For example, in DUI investigations where people are doing field sobriety tests, it will be great to capture that on camera,” he said.

Dash cams will also be installed in patrol cars later this year. Those will record what’s in front of the vehicle and the back seat where suspects are transported.

Deputies will also soon be given new tasers to replace older units. “It is important to have a variety of tools when you are out dealing with folks. It’s a good upgrade for us; it’s an alternative use of force,” he said.

Cost for the body cams and tasers will be approximately $1 million annually, he added.

Virtual reality training for deputies is another technological advancement planned. VR training will enable officers to slip on a headset and be placed in a variety of video scenarios they could face on the streets.

Staffing

Staffing at the sheriff’s office is looking better in 2024 than last year but issues remain.

“I am happy to report all of our deputy positions are filled. I think I’m about the only local law enforcement agency that has all of my police officer positions filled. A lot of police agencies are still struggling with that,” Gese said.

Even with those positions filled – a year ago the office was down four deputies – over 10% of the force’s 122 deputies are unable to hit the streets alone because they are still in training required of new officers. That places stress on remaining deputies. It can take 1 1/2 years to train a deputy. Currently, there is a six-month wait for a new hire to get into the state police academy.

Also, the corrections officer’s division, which operates the jail and transports inmates to court, does has eight openings.

Staffing levels have not been increased since 2008. “The population has significantly grown since 2008 and the need for services is up and expectations of the community are up,” Gese said.

The sheriff was unsuccessful in getting the county to fund eight new positions. “Getting up to our (current) staffing level is great but it’s still pretty low for the size and growth of our county. That has been tricky and a challenge.”

Washington ranks the lowest of any state for officers per 1,000 population, said Gese, who added KCSO often ranks in the bottom five of agencies in the state for police per population. “It’s a struggle,” he admitted.

Police reforms statewide are also having an impact. Some reforms emphasize law enforcement to take longer to handle situations to help avoid use of force. That can result in more officers being involved in calls and each response taking more time, the sheriff explained.

“There are situations where our calls are taking more time because we are taking a more thoughtful approach,” Gese said.

He cited a recent instance at the Safeway in Silverdale where deputies were called to deal with a mentally unstable person who went to the meat counter and grabbed a large knife. Deputies negotiated with the person for two hours. “When dealing with people who may be suffering from mental illness or addiction, we do take extra time and try to figure out the best course of action,” he said.

Crime

Attention in 2024 will be paid to addressing an uptick of violent crime. “We have seen more homicides this year than we have typically seen,” he said. The office investigated 10 murders in 2023, compared to around four in previous years. There has also been a spike in aggravated assaults.

“We are really trying to focus on violent crime. That is where our attention is desperately needed. We really feel that it is critical to get support and trust in law enforcement from our communities and to let them know we are out there catching the people that commit these bad crimes,” he said.

Property crimes, including stolen vehicles, have also seen an uptick. “Auto theft rates have been really high. My hope is they are starting to slow just a bit,” he said.

To help combat crime the sheriff stressed that his office will place added emphasis on working with other law enforcement agencies. “This is not new, but it has become crystal clear that you have to do that. We have really learned with staffing issues and the pandemic how critical it is to work together,” he said.

Local law enforcement agencies have benefitted by sharing information about stolen vehicles, Gese said. Police have passed on information about suspects, the types of cars being stolen and where vehicles are often dumped. “By sharing that information, we have been able to make a dent in auto thefts by arresting these folks who have been pretty prolific at it.”

Tax

The sheriff’s budget of $55 million makes up 40% of the county’s general funding. Taking up such a hefty share of the budget makes it difficult to get a bigger slice of the financial pie. Economic constraints of the county are prompting the sheriff’s office to seek outside funding to grow the force.

In 2024, Gese wants to look into passing a criminal justice sales tax in Kitsap. “I would like to reach out to the community to see if it’s something they would want to support.”

Gese previously expressed interest in setting up an exploratory committee to look into the tax and work with county commissioners to survey citizens on the idea.

Community outreach

Gese also wants to strengthen his office’s ties with communities by having deputies meet with them and by utilizing social media. “We think it is important to be out there in our communities. That was a tenant of what was called for in police reform – accountability, transparency and connection with communities,” he said. “A key element in community policing is to talk to your community and find out what they need and want and what they expect.”

In coming months, Gese intends to hold town meetings. “These provide an opportunity to go into a community or neighborhood, share information and give people a chance to ask questions,” he said.

The office will continue participating in Neighborhood Watch meetings, speaking to community organizations and holding “Coffee with a Cop” sessions at local coffee shops. Social media will still be used to share crime prevention tips, seek the public’s help in identifying possible suspects, and provide information about suspicious activity, he added.

Gese also hopes to conduct “citizens academies” to educate community leaders and others about the functions of his agency. The multi-week program will cover areas like use of force and civil functions like dealing with protection orders and evictions.

Jail upgrades

Improvements to the county jail are also planned. The lock-up is located adjacent to the county courthouse in Port Orchard and houses approximately 250 inmates.

Gese plans to open a reentry services program to help inmates after they serve their sentences. The operation will be housed in an unused wing of the facility. “If people are getting addiction or mental health services in the jail, we want to continue those with a handoff so people leaving jail will go right into services. Providing housing services is also critical. We feel (providing such services) will help with recidivism,” Gese said.

Capital improvements planned for the jail include a $2 million upgrade of the camera system. That will provide higher-quality video and enable corrections officers to keep an eye on more areas of the building, Gese said. That will help with things like the increase in jail deaths recently. A $13 million replacement of the jail’s roof and HVAC equipment are also scheduled.

The sheriff’s office has a staff of 270 officers, administration and support staff. It is charged with patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county, spanning from Hansville to Olalla and Bainbridge Island to Seabeck.