The in basket: MikeFromRoswell, otherwise unidentified, writes to say that while attending the Sept. 3 Blackberry Festival car show and fly-in at the Bremerton Airport, he observed the aftermath of an accident on Highway 3 just south of the traffic signal at the airport.
“I was somewhat surprised to see no less than three Bremerton Police cruisers tending to the accident on a state highway, and no sign of a WSP unit,” he said.
“While I understand that as part of the South Kitsap Industrial Area annexation that whole neighborhood around the airport is now technically in the city,” he said, “I have to wonder who was minding the store while more than half the on-duty police force was miles out of the actual city tending to an accident on a state highway.
“Is this the most effective use of our scarce police resources? I’m curious as to just how the annexation has effected patrol services for those of us in the city proper.”
The out basket: Capt. Tom Wolfe of BPD supplies this answer:
“Bremerton annexed the SKIA area some time back, years back, and in doing so took on responsibility for the stretch of Highway 3 from Lake Flora Road to just east of the airport as well as the industrial area to the north of Highway 3.
“The city is aware of the distance from the downtown core to the SKIA area and the number of officers available to respond to major incidents. The Washington State Patrol is available to assist us if and when the circumstances are such that we do not have officers available to respond to an accident on Highway 3. It is a priority for the State Patrol to keep Highway 3 open and moving so if our response or ability to respond is hampered they will help out.
“The reverse of that is also true, if the state is tied up we will go and help them on issues within our jurisdiction.”
