Family of Justin Moegling, the 41-year-old Bremerton man who was shot and killed by law enforcement in Poulsbo May 7, along with other community members, spoke out about the incident to the Poulsbo City Council at its May 14 meeting.

Karl Moegling, Justin’s father, spoke during public comments and said Justin had talked the day before he was fatally shot about how the medication he was taking wasn’t working. Karl said Justin suffered from bipolar disorder.

Members of Stonechild Chiefstick’s family also spoke during public comment. Chiefstick, a Native American with close ties to the Suquamish Tribe, was fatally shot by Poulsbo police during the city’s 3rd of July fireworks show along the downtown waterfront in 2019.

“We’re talking about two human lives taken, now, in five years,” Trishandra Pickup said, Suquamish tribal member and mother to some of Chiefstick’s children. “People should be afraid to come to the land of your Vikings that sit on my tribe’s ancestral land. You should be ashamed that you’re allowing this. We’re talking about someone being pulled over for tinted windows, that we’re supposedly too dark.”

Thomas Wilson, Chiefstick’s cousin, said he was recently followed by Poulsbo police around 3 a.m. one morning, and claimed at one point the officer turned off his vehicle lights while following behind him.

“Your police are intimidating your public, and the safety of our public is important,” he said. “These officers need to follow the same laws we need to follow. I’ve had enough fear from you guys. This has got to stop, something needs to happen.”

Sarah van Gelder said: “The stories we heard are just heartbreaking. This young man didn’t have to die. I have so many questions. How do we know we’re safe in Poulsbo…when we’re seeing this kind of behavior? The purpose of having police is to protect us.”

Following public comment, city councilmembers and Mayor Becky Erickson spoke about the incident and expressed condolences to the family and overall community.

Councilmember Gary McVey said he was among those who encouraged city officials to release body cam footage of the incident to the public via social media in efforts to display transparency and accountability. He said the city got permission from the Office of Independent Investigations to release the footage.

“I find it interesting that people are criticizing us for showing the video,” McVey said. “If we hadn’t shown the video, we would have been accused of covering up or hiding things…We’re navigating as best we can here.”

Councilmember Pam Crowe said: “There’s nothing I can say that would make this better. Collectively, as a community, including law enforcement and my role and responsibilities, we can do better.”

While offering compassion to the family and those affected by Moegling’s death, Councilmember Britt Livdahl said, “I have a lot of respect for our department and where we’re headed and what we want to do,” mentioning the progress the city has made in integrating behavioral health into law enforcement. “It’s clear that needs to continue and broaden, and that there needs to be better access.”

Erickson said: “No one wants this, ever. I’m just truly sorry. I am glad we have a state organization that can do an independent investigation so we can truly know what happened. I wish it hadn’t happened.”

Police chief Ron Harding also addressed the incident on behalf of the department.

“I just want to express my gratitude to the mayor and council…for the support you showed us,” he said. “I think tonight was an example of your incredible professionalism, to show compassion for the family whose lives have been changed forever. You were able to do that in a way that expressed empathy for them, but also your understanding of the impact this has on the human beings who work as police officers.”

OII has since identified the officers involved in the use-of-deadly-force incident as Poulsbo police officer Nickolas Brown and Kitsap County sheriff’s deputy Wyatt Galbreath. Brown, 28, has been with the Poulsbo Police Department since 2023 and is currently working a patrol assignment. Galbreath, also 28, has been with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office since 2020 and is currently working in the traffic unit.

Both have been placed on critical incident or administrative leave, per agency policies.