Poulsbo welcomes two new police officers

Two new Poulsbo police officers, Jason Kennedy and Michael Miulli, were sworn in by Mayor Becky Erickson during a city council meeting Wednesday evening. Both of the new officers bring with them extensive military experience.

Kennedy grew up in Washington in a military family and ended up graduating from high school in Puerto Rico. Following a year of college in Florida, Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Army where he spent more than four years as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 6th Ranger Training Brigade. Kennedy re-enlisted with the U.S. Navy after spending a brief period as a Harley Davidson motorcycle mechanic. In the Navy, Kennedy became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal diver and eventually earned the title of Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist.

Miulli is a Southern California transplant who enlisted in the Army in 2008 after high school. After serving five years of active duty with the 2nd Infantry Division, with a combat deployment to Iraq, Miulli now serves as an infantry sergeant in the Washington National Guard. In 2016, Miulli was hired by the Port Gamble Tribal Police Department and was a distinguished honor graduate of the Indian Country Officer Training Program.

Both officers will be a boon for the department, says Poulsbo Police Chief Dan Schoonmaker.

“He’s done some pretty significant stuff in some pretty harsh places,” the chief said of Kennedy’s military career. Miulli, he added, brings with him an excellent track record with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Police.

“They both understand the concept of team,” Schoonmaker said. “What we’re trying to build here at the Poulsbo Police Department is getting guys who have a good sense of team, what it means to be a team member, what it means to work hard for the guy next to you.”

Shortly after being sworn in, Miulli said he was excited to serve the city of Poulsbo.

“Honestly, I feel great … I’ve worked up in Port Gamble, so I’m familiar with the area. I live in Poulsbo. This is the best town … it’s awesome that I get to work where I live, where my daughter is going to grow up,” Miulli said.

“I fell in love with Poulsbo, and I’ve been over here for a little over three years and I really enjoy it, I’m very happy that I got picked up here,” Kennedy said after receiving his shield. “This was my No. 1 choice, so I was very pleased that I was able to get the opportunity to work here.”

Kennedy said he was looking forward to the change of pace posed by a life in law enforcement.

“I’m just looking forward to the challenge. It’s a little bit different than what I was doing before. I’m used to kicking in doors and doing that kind of thing,” he said. “I am happy to be somewhere closer to home where I get a more tangible feeling of being able to do something for the community.”

Miulli will begin field training with the department next week, and Kennedy will first attend the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

-Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter with the North Kitsap Herald. Nick can be reached at ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com