Two unsolved homicides and an increase in other violent crime in a neighborhood and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent has “instructed” BPD to “increase the police presence.”

The reality is that when manpower is redirected into one neighborhood, it is only because an officer is removed from another neighborhood. There are no extra cops! The BPD manpower is down eight bodies from where it was five years ago, while the area they patrol has increased in size.

Just a few years ago, crime statistics showed Bremerton was the most violent city in the state.  As the BPD manpower increased, we lost that title.  It now appears that we are again in the running for that distinction. The mayor can instruct, redirect and prioritize where she wants, but until there are more cops on the street, the trend will unfortunately  continue.

Valerie Endicott

Bremerton