• Friday the 13th
As you may know, a couple weeks ago was Friday the 13th, but it was relatively uneventful for that notable date.
Officer Chris Faidley investigated a hit-and-run crash at 11th Street and Callow Avenue. As Officer Jason Vertefeuille noted in his report on the case: “When Faidley arrived, he keenly observed a very subtle investigative clue as to who the suspect may be: the entire front bumper of the suspect’s vehicle, with the license plate attached, lying in the street.”
Officer Faidley collected this evidence and will be doing additional investigation in the coming days; we have a good feeling about solving this one.
• Wait for it
This is why we check the parks “after hours.”
Saturday night, Officer Derek Ejde contacted two people in a car parked in Forest Ridge Park after closing hours. The male passenger provided a name that was clearly false. However, the other Ejde, (Officer Jordan Ejde) arrived at the scene and recognized the passenger and positively identified him.
Slap your palm against your cheek, and open your mouth with mock surprise, as I will now inform you that yes, the man had a felony arrest warrant. I know, I don’t believe it either!
The warrant was for a drug charge, so during the search of the passenger incident to the arrest, officers found — wait for it — drug paraphernalia. This led to Officer Roessel and his K-9 partner Dusty being called to the scene, and Dusty “alerted” to drugs in the car. The car was towed to obtain a search warrant.
Great work, a felon and some drugs off the streets, and it was all started by checking a suspicious vehicle in the park.
• Another fake name
Officer Jeff Schaefer had an encounter Wednesday that continued this week’s theme of “maybe I’ll just make up a fake name” when he contacted two suspicious people in a car in the Harborside Parking Garage.
One of the people did not have any identification, and experienced tremendous difficulty recalling their social security number. Officer Schaefer noted in his report that, “In my 20-year law enforcement career, I have learned that when an adult does not have ID and doesn’t know their social security number, it is a sign that they are not providing me with their correct identity.”
Correct. The man had multiple arrest warrants and went to jail after we finally agreed on his real name.
• Remembering the fallen officers
I joke a little about the trend toward suspects lying about their names; refusing to cooperate or comply with lawful orders; and generally defying police. Anecdotally, our officers, and officers everywhere, are seeing it more and more. It is likely an outgrowth of the national debate around police and community relations, but unfortunately it is leading to more confrontations, not fewer.
I raised this issue when I spoke at this week’s Kitsap Law Enforcement Memorial, which is held each year here in Bremerton at the Miller-Woodlawn Cemetery.
So far in 2016, there has been a 55-percent increase in police officers dying by gunfire. The point we made during the ceremony was that the best way to remember and honor our fallen officers is for all of us to raise the dialogue about loaded terms like “police violence” and do more listening, and less shouting.
The polarized and heated atmosphere is not helping, and everyone’s goal should be keeping everyone, including officers, more safe.
The memorial was well attended this year, and we really appreciate our guest speakers, Judge Jeannette Dalton and Sheriff Gary Simpson.
Kitsap County is somewhat distinctive in holding this annual event to remember all fallen officers, and specifically the seven Kitsap area officers and deputies who have given their lives in the line of duty.
— Steve Strachan
Chief of Police
Bremerton Police Department
