The Bremerton Police Department released its 2020 annual report today.
In his introduction to the report, Police Chief Tom Wolfe noted that, with operational challenges and changes in policing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a delay in releasing the report.
“We have had a lot of changes in rapid succession that delayed rolling out the report," he stated. "Our goal for the 2021 report will be to have it out within the first quarter.”
In 2020, Bremerton Police Department officers responded to 46,020 calls for service, up from 45,477 calls in 2019 — a little more than a 1 percent increase. Officers filed 8,153 case reports, made 2,302 arrests and reported 180 uses of force. Additionally, the department investigated 39 citizen complaints against officers.
The report states that all 180 uses of force “were within departmental policy.”
The department defines force as “anything more than physically moving someone or grasping their arm to direct them.” Bremerton officers must document all uses of force beginning at the lowest level of force used to overcome resistance, according to the report.
“All use of force reports are reviewed by command staff to look for trends, issues, and potential biases to ensure no problems need addressing,” the report states. “The Department examines bias toward any one group.” According to the report, the department’s analysis found that “there is no bias, patterns or signs of misuse of force based on the data collected.” The department did not receive any complaints of racially biased policing in 2020, according to the report.
Of the suspects who officers used force against, 66 percent percent had some kind of weapon and 20 percent were unarmed; it was unknown if the remaining 14 percent had a weapon, according to the report. Seventy-one percent of suspects were white, 21 percent were black, 4 percent were Hispanic, 2 percent were Asian, 2 percent were of unknown race, and none were American Indian or any other race according to the report.
Thirty-five suspects attempted to elude Bremerton Police Department officers in 2020. In 27 of the 35 pursuits, officers ultimately ended their pursuits in accordance with department policy. Of the remaining eight completed pursuits, all led to the arrest, or establishment of probable cause to arrest, the suspect. Three of the pursuits led to suspect collisions; none led to officer collisions.
The department received 39 complaints against officers in 2020, with a total of 52 allegations. “The Department takes all complaints seriously and fully addresses them,” the report states. “There are no parameters on how a citizen can make a complaint. An anonymous complaint will be taken and followed up to the extent possible.”
Ultimately, officers were exonerated in 12 of the complaints, while 16 were determined to be unfounded, and 11 were “not sustained,” which means there was “insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the employee.”
Twelve of the complaints were sustained, meaning “the act occurred, and it constituted misconduct.” One complaint was unresolved.
Additionally, the department initiated and completed five internal investigations. Only one investigation was sustained, for a case involving “conduct unbecoming of an officer,” and resulted in a letter of reprimand, according to the report.
There were 14 vehicular accidents involving police department employees in 2020. The report states that department policy is that all collisions involving department employees are investigated regardless of the degree of damage. The majority of the incidents involved low speeds and minimal damage, according to the report.
Click here to view the full report (PDF). You can also view previous years’ reports.
Wolfe noted in the report that the department will continue working with the community in the year ahead: “2021 promises a lot of change, and the Bremerton Police Department looks forward to the challenge of meeting that change while continuing to partner together with our community.”
