Last week, I reported on a police accountability consultant’s assessment of the Bainbridge police department’s policies for investigating misconduct complaints.

The Kitsap Sun’s editorial board echos the consultant’s determination: that the department’s complaint system is confusing, not readily accessible and can be intimidating to citizens.

Here’s a bit from the editorial:

“(L)ast week’s unveiling of a report commissioned by the city — which will be publicly discussed Nov. 16 — points out that a culture which the community’s trust should be built upon was incomplete at the bottom. A fairly basic function — providing a form for a citizen to file a complaint or concern — is neither clear nor easy to find, according to consultant Sam Pailca, and may even be written so as to discourage that type of feedback.”

Click here to read the full editorial.

By the way, the Sun is looking for some new blood on its editorial board. If you’d be willing to volunteer and make regular trips down to Bremerton to weigh in on issues about and beyond the island, head over here.

The Kitsap Sun’s editorial board called the city’s decision to transfer the independent Civil Service Commission examiner’s duties to the city manager’s secretary a “a nickel-and-dime move” that has eroded accountability and public trust.

Read the full editorial here.

There’s been plenty more news since the transfer occurred earlier this month.

This week, the last of the three civil service commissioners resigned just before the city Ethics Board concluded that the commissioners had violated ethics rules by holding secret meetings with the city manager and city attorney.