POULSBO — The slogan wasn’t quite “Remember the Alamo,” but “Remember Chelan” could easily become the rallying cry as Poulsbo police officers and their supporters fight to save the department.

At the first meeting of the Save Poulsbo Police Department group Thursday evening, officers were joined by more than 70 supporters at the Poulsbo Fire Department.

The group was formed in response to Mayor Kathryn Quade’s announcement of a process study of the department which includes, among other things, examining the possibility of contracting the city’s police services out to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

The mere mention of that conjured pictures of the fate of the city of Chelan’s police department, which was dissolved in November 2003 after a similar process study.

“Because of the short amount of time, citizens didn’t have much time to provide input on the issue,” Poulsbo Police Association spokesman Andy Pate said of the Chelan study.

That review was also touted as a process study designed to improve the department’s service, but the end result was something different, Pate said.

“Meetings with the sheriff’s office have gone as far as painting a picture of what the new police department would look like,” he said.

However, Pate said, Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer can’t keep the promises he’s made about keeping existing personnel without the approval of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Guild.

“From what I’ve learned, they would never allow this,” Pate said. “They would take it to bargaining.”

Poulsbo officer Dan LaFrance told the crowd that when it came to his decision of which law enforcement agency in the county to serve with, he studied the issue before selecting the Poulsbo Police Department.

“I talked with people from all the other departments, and they said this was a tight-knit team,” LaFrance said. “I have 15 years to work, and I plan to be here unless I’m told otherwise.”

Poulsbo Police detective Grant Romaine said an example of the necessity of keeping the department occurred earlier in the day.

“There was a person threatening to jump off the Finn Hill overpass, and we got a call from the sheriff’s department asking if we could respond, because it would take them 20 to 30 minutes to arrive,” Romaine said. “We got there in two or three minutes.”

Former mayors Mitch Mitchusson and Donna Jean Bruce also expressed their support of the department and questioned the need for even exploring the idea of contracting with the county.

“I think I speak for everyone here when I say, ‘We want you here,’” Bruce said.

When residents call 911, they expect the speed and quality of service the Poulsbo Police Department provides, she said.

“We want you to stay, because we know you can respond in two or three minutes,” Bruce said.

In his 24 years with the city, Mitchusson said he has enjoyed observing how the department interacts with residents on a daily basis.

“I think all of you folks have done a great job, and people enjoy having you respond,” he said.

The officers are a vital part of the community, and it would be a shame to lose them, he said.

“You are part of it, and we’re here to support you,” Mitchusson said.