The Bainbridge Island Police Department has hired another member to add to its ranks. This time it’s for deputy chief.

Jeffrey Horn, a long-time officer of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, began his new role as second-in-command to Bainbridge Police Chief Matthew Hamner Monday, Aug. 4.

“He’s well-qualified for the position and an excellent fit for this community,” Hamner said.

Hamner worked alongside Horn for 20 years at the Indianapolis police department.

Now, Horn will assist the chief with the day-to-day operations at the Bainbridge police department.

“With Deputy Chief Horn leading the daily operations of the department, I’ll be able to spend more of my time on strategic long-term planning and building community relationships,” Hamner said.

Hamner began searching for someone to fill the position around the same time that the city decided to withdraw its petition to the state to break up the union for the city’s police officers. City officials had been considering removing the police department’s four lieutenants from the Bainbridge Police Guild, the union that also includes patrol officers.

Although Hamner said he did not advertise the opening, he called upon contacts he has gathered over his 25 years in law enforcement and the many national organizations he is involved in to find candidates for the job.

Hamner interviewed seven individuals for the position, four from Washington and three from departments out of state.

Horn, Hamner said, represented the same vision he has for the Bainbridge police department.

“I know Jeff Horn on a personal level,” Hamner said. “I know he brings exactly what we need on Bainbridge Island.”

Horn completed his training at the Indianapolis Police Department’s Training Academy in February 1995, just five years after Hamner joined the department.

Since then he has served 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.

Hamner and Horn worked together in the neighborhood resource unit, and Hamner said that Horn’s approach to bridging communities and law enforcement together is what made him the ideal candidate for the position.

After receiving a phone call from Hamner, Horn came out to Bainbridge to visit.

He had never heard of Bainbridge Island before that call, and the reality was that Washington was a far move regardless of the opportunity.

Turned out, the visit wasn’t for nothing.

“We fell in love with the place,” Horn said. “That’s really what sold it for us.”

With that, Horn, his wife and three children arrived in Washington late last week in time for Horn’s first day on the job.

They are currently residing in Silverdale while they look for something more permanent.

Horn is the first deputy chief on Bainbridge Island in six years, since Jon Felhman took the job before becoming police chief.

Horn will be paid an annual salary of $118,500. He is a no-contract, at-will employee.

Due to his second-in-command rank, he is also unrepresented by the Bainbridge Island Police Guild.

“I am very much looking forward to having him aboard,” Hamner said.