As I write my first Bremerton Police Department weekly update, I reflect on how strange it is not to have Steve Strachan in the corner office. He will be missed.

I spoke with Steve, now executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, this week on the phone. He is understandably busy but wanted to send best wishes and warm regards to his BPD family. Even though there is a sense of loss with his departure, each member of our department should be proud of their role in launching Chief Strachan to his new position as a leader of Washington state law enforcement. WASPC would not have selected their new executive director from anything but a top-tier agency.

Some of you have wondered why there was no going-away ceremony for Chief Strachan. Don’t worry, one is in the works. The ceremony will take place at a later date because of the impact that the December shooting of our two officers had on the department. Since Chief Strachan lives in Bremerton, he said he will gladly join us as we honor his service. More to follow when we have the details.

I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing Officer Kent Mayfield walk into my office this morning. He is still recovering from his gunshot wounds but was in good spirits, despite his pain. It was awesome to hear his laugh throughout the building.

In spite of his recent traumatic experience, Kent is not ready to retire and give up the job he loves and has done so well for 42 years. He wants to come back to work when he is well enough — with a slight change. After thoughtful discussions with his family, Kent has requested an office assignment. He will be joining the General Investigations Unit when he is cleared to come back to work.

Now on to the week’s activities. For those not aware, after each shift, the supervisors send a summary to the command staff on what occurred during the week. Those reports are the source of much of the content of these weekly updates, and the credit for any comedic gold or creative writing goes to them.

Those darn millennials and their texting … Corporal Strombach investigated an internal theft of lottery tickets at a local convenience store. The night clerk was helping herself to lottery tickets, scratched them off and redeemed the winners. The losing tickets were placed back with the other lottery tickets, hoping the owner will not notice. The store owner has video of the clerk committing the theft and texted the clerk that she was fired.

Hey! Excuse me! Got any mayo in here? … Officer Inklebarger responded to the Salvation Army for an unwanted woman refusing to leave. Though she was escorted away, Officer Inklebarger had a hunch that BPD would not see the last of her. Correct. A few hours later, the same woman walked directly into a residence on Park Avenue, searched the refrigerator, and then took a seat in the living room. When the startled residents told the intruder to leave, she refused. Corporal Strombach arrived and arrested her for first-degree criminal trespass.

Barometric pressure applied to theft suspect … From Corporal Shaefer: “You may have read the email about the guy who swiped an antique barometer from the lobby of a Fifth Street address back on the 22nd. This morning while on his morning walk, the victim spotted the suspect downtown. I contacted the would-be meteorologist in the alley right by the door to the old PD and detained him. He confessed to swiping the barometer because he has been ‘under a bunch of stress’ and then sold it to an acquaintance for $100. I booked him for theft and trafficking [and] spent the rest of the shift looking for one of the shelter denizens whom the man sold the barometer to. I finally found him and would it surprise you to learn that he said he took it but gave it back to the seller? We have no idea where the barometer is, so keep your eyes open for a three foot long one. There probably aren’t that many of them floating around in the 800 block of Sixth Street.”

— Jim Burchett is interim chief of police of Bremerton. Contact him at James.Burchett@ci.bremerton.wa.us.