Organization:

• Administration
• Investigations
• Patrol Units
• Support Services

View the department organization chart.

ADMINISTRATION:
The Bainbridge Island Police Department command staff is currently comprised of a Chief of Police, an administrative assistant and five lieutenants. The command staff is responsible for strategic planning, organizing and directing all aspects of the department functions, serves as the media contact, as well as to work closely with the City Manager, City Council and our local citizens. Staff members attend community functions and are responsible for capital projects, emergency operations, contracted services and intergovernmental relations.

INVESTIGATIONS:
Our Criminal Investigations Unit is made up of two detectives. The detectives investigate all major crimes occurring in our Bainbridge Island community, as well as follow-up investigation on cases initially handled by patrol officers.

Detectives are responsible for initial investigations and conducting follow-up investigations on property crimes and crimes against persons. Our detectives are responsible for interviewing suspects and victims, as well as taking witness statements. They are also responsible for collecting and processing evidence at extensive crime scenes. The detectives often testify in court and represent the Bainbridge Island Police Department at local meetings and committees.

An additional detective works for WestNET, our drug enforcement organization, that employes detectives from local agencies to form a comprehensive drug task force. This task force is responsible for investigating drug crimes throughout our county.

PATROL UNITS:
Traffic and Patrol Unit

Patrol officers respond to 911 calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the Bainbridge Island community. Our patrol officers are also responsible for traffic enforcement and accident investigation. Some of the main causes of accidents on the Island are speed, driver inattention and failure to yield the right of way. The patrol division's primary purpose is to maintain peace and order by protecting life and property through impartial enforcement of federal, state and local laws. Our patrol division also performs business and residential security checks, detect and/or prevent criminal activity, direct traffic in congested areas and emergency situations, identify and eliminate safety hazards, service of search and arrest warrants, issue traffic citations and infractions, investigate accidents and crime scenes. Officers also provide first aid, testify in court, interview victims, witnesses and suspects and conduct follow-up investigations.

K-9 Unit
"Officer Dale Johnson & Rusty"

The Bainbridge Island Police Department K-9 Unit is comprised of Officer Dale Johnson and his partner, Rusty. Officer Johnson has been with the Department for more than 13 years, serving with both the patrol and marine units. Rusty has been trained in obedience and drug tracking and is a graduate of the 2004 Class of the Washington State Patrol's K-9 Academy.

Marine Patrol
Our department has one Marine Patrol Unit. Our Marine Patrol Unit is staffed by Officer Scott Weiss. The Marine Patrol Unit enforces marine laws, assists vessels in distress and performs water rescues. Additional responsibilities include providing boating education and training, as well as appearing at community events.

Bicycle Patrol
The Bicycle Unit is an extension of the Patrol Division. During the summer months, we have officers assigned to patrol the community on bicycles allowing our officers to be highly visible, proactive and more accessible to citizens. Qualified patrol officers ride bicycles in the downtown core area and in other densely populated Island community areas to reduce crime, and have the ability to move silently and swiftly giving them the surprise advantage on criminal perpetrators.

Parking Enforcement
Our Parking Enforcement Officers performs field and office work related to the enforcement of parking ordinances and maintains parking enforcement records. Year-round, they walk and drive in all areas of the Island. They patrol business and residential areas, and conducts vesking vehicles in limited-time parking areas and returning at appropriate time intervals to issue citations. They enforce parking limits such as those pertaining to carpool areas, no parking zones, disabled parking, blocking access and sidewalks. These officers are responsible for parking complaints, arranging for impounds of improperly parked or abandoned vehicles and occasionally directing traffic. They appear in traffic court and attend community meetings to address parking issues. Parking Enforcement Officers also manage the downtown employee parking permit program.

Reserves
Our department currently has five Reserve Officers. Reserve officers are local citizens who volunteer their time to assist with police duties. The reserve officers must first complete the Reserve Officer Academy.

SUPPORT SERVICES:
Records/Support Services Division
Our department employs two police clerks who provide reception and clerical support services and inspections. The police clerks are responsible for entering, maintaining, and dissemination of the department records. In addition, they are responsible for the processing of mail, creating press releases, fingerprinting, issuing concealed weapons permits, registration of home and business alarms, selling pet licenses to local residents, assisting the public both in person and telephonically, dispatching officers, checking and quashing bench warrants, entry of protection orders and stolen and found property into the state WACIC system.

Evidence/Property
Our evidence/property room is 5managed by an evidence technician. This position deals with the intake, processing, maintenance and disposal of all evidence and property taken in by the department.