Election 2022: Candidates for Kitsap County sheriff weigh in on sales taxes, precinct plans
Voters will choose between incumbent John Gese and challenger Rick Kuss in the Nov. 8 race for Kitsap County sheriff.
Gese, a Democrat, is running to retain a seat he has held since he was appointed by Kitsap County commissioners in 2021 to replace retiring sheriff Gary Simpson. Gese has worked his way up in the office, serving as undersheriff before being appointed sheriff.
Rick Kuss, a Republican, recently retired after 24 years in the Navy, including time serving as a submarine weapons officer. He has a master's degree in criminal justice.
The Kitsap Sun asked the candidates to answer five questions. Their answers follow:
John Gese
Age: 61
Current occupation: Kitsap County Sheriff
Previous elected experience: None
Party: Democratic
Campaign contributions: $54,334.95
Q: “Proactive policing” and “targeting neighborhood crime” have been stated as priorities during this campaign. How will you achieve that with KCSO being the law enforcement agency responsible for the largest geographic area in Kitsap but one that is struggling with a low-staffing ratio and a historically high turnover of staff?
A: KCSO has one community resource officer currently and we will add a second by the end of the year. Together these officers will respond to neighborhood and community problems which could range to a house reported to be selling drugs, other illegal activity in the neighborhood, traffic problems, or homeless encampments. The community resource officer will monitor areas for increased crime activity and respond to requests for assistance from the community. They will assess the problems, work with the community to generate solutions, and coordinate KCSO resources to respond with the appropriate needs to resolve the problems. The community resource officers will have access to internal resources such as patrol, detectives, traffic, crisis intervention officers, or outside sources such as Health Department, Department of Community Development, and behavioral health resources, to name a few. This targeted approach should help prioritize scarce resources but help assure resolutions to community concerns.
Q: As the sheriff’s office works to recruit new deputies to fill existing vacancies, what can it do to ensure that its staffing reflects the racial and gender makeup of Kitsap County?
A: We can and are prioritizing efforts to recruit individuals who reflect racial and gender diversity. We strengthen a culture that is welcoming and comfortable for a diverse workforce and promoting that culture to the public. Working with our human resource department, DEI advisor, and recruiters, we are producing successful strategies to meet hiring and retention goals. The local military presence provides a great resource for a diverse applicant pool and efforts to build relationships and programs with them are a priority. We are working with Olympic College to begin a criminal justice program which we hope will help promote and attract qualified and diverse applicants. We also leveraging our teenage cadet program to promote the agency and profession at high schools. We are proactive by attending job fairs, public events, and multi-agency recruiting and testing events to recruit. We leverage all our employees to help recruit.
Q: The sheriff’s office strategic plan for 2017-2022 called for replacing the Silverdale precinct by 2019 and adding a precinct for the north end of the county. How important do you think new buildings are, and how high a priority will they be for you if elected to office?
A: The Silverdale Precinct is still a priority. The current building is poorly designed and too small. Replacement efforts have slowed as the county officials prioritized the funding and replacement of the Port Orchard County courthouse. Covid-19 also impacted the forecasting of income and expenses for county government the last few years. To prioritize and keep the project moving, I will advocate that the new building be included in the updated county comprehensive plan and capital improvement plans. Working together with internal and community partners, we hope to consider assorted options for funding and building acquisition. Adding a new building in the north end is a secondary and longer-range priority as current needs are best handled by using leased space. As the north end continues to grow, the need to reassess the plan based on service needs will be required.
Q: Counties in Washington state have the ability to impose a public safety sales tax for criminal justice purposes, with the approval of voters, ranging from 1/10th of 1 percent to 3/10th of 1 percent. Do you think this is something Kitsap County should pursue?
A: Yes, I do. An exploratory committee should be convened. The committee would help objectively assess the need, the potential community support, and strategize how best to accomplish passage of such a tax. This type of funding must be shared with other local jurisdictions under the law and collaboration and support would be necessary for passage. Kitsap County should explore this funding option given the costs and increasing demand for services. The cost of Sheriff operations continues to be a significant percentage of the county budget and as the county grows the demand for services are expected to grow as well. The Kitsap County Jail is also a significant expense and costs for food, supplies, and mental and medical health services are rising dramatically. We have a low staffing ratio compared to many other law enforcement agencies and we struggle to keep up with a growing community and public expectations.
Q: The lack of mental health treatment at all levels in society is burdening jails and stretching other county resources, including law enforcement. What solutions will you advocate for other elected leaders to pursue to help those who are mentally ill get treatment and not become another crime statistic?
A: Increased funding and additional successful resources and programs are needed for those suffering from behavioral health afflictions. The lack of resources impacts our patrol operations and the jail. Deputies often deal with individuals who are suffering, but there is a lack of resources and authority to help many. Our jail becomes the de facto treatment center for many who suffer from these and mental health conditions. We work with available resources to divert those individuals from the jail when possible and towards treatment. We also work to help incarcerated individuals by coordinating with community partners to receive continued care once released. I will continue advocating that our legislators prioritize needed funding and changes to state law to help those in need. I will continue to collaborate with our partners such as Fire & Aid, health services partners, housing, and advocacy groups to educate the public on these challenges.
Rick Kuss
Age: 44
Current occupation: Retired Naval Weapons Officer
Previous elected experience: Proudly running for the first time after serving in the United States Navy for 24 years.
Party: Republican
Campaign contributions: $53,115.16
Q: “Proactive policing” and “targeting neighborhood crime” have been stated as priorities during this campaign. How will you achieve that with KCSO being the law enforcement agency responsible for the largest geographic area in Kitsap but one that is struggling with a low-staffing ratio and a historically high turnover of staff?
A: Having taken multiple graduate courses regarding this topic, I will make sure all Kitsap Law Enforcement Agencies receive training on the administrative and management aspect of this policing model. For example, in an organizational model for proactive crime reduction and accountability, the main issue in the sheriff’s office is the “experienced” culture of responding to calls for service and investigation of crimes. With proactive policing models, such as stratified policing, changes must be made across the entire organization to institutionalize proactive crime reduction. This process shifts the resources for everyday operations by efficiently using time from individual deputies. The process has already been incorporated in several law enforcement agencies across the United States and has been in lowering crime rates while utilizing resources efficiently with a low-staffing ratio. This approach also develops leaders at all levels and gives ownership to deputies resulting in a lower turnover of staff.
Q: As the sheriff’s office works to recruit new deputies to fill existing vacancies, what can it do to ensure that its staffing reflects the racial and gender makeup of Kitsap County?
A: The method of recruiting needs to target all races and genders. This can be accomplished by the method of job sourcing to ensure applicants represent the demographics of Kitsap County. Many law enforcement agencies are recruiting and creating diverse teams to represent the community more adequately. The best way to ensure the KCSO is unbiased in the sourcing is to audit the recruitment marketing ads or methods to verify the largest racial/gender group is not the only one targeted. The best way for the sheriff’s office to serve the community is to have deputies that are from and represent the community which includes all areas of Kitsap County.
Q: The sheriff’s office strategic plan for 2017-2022 called for replacing the Silverdale precinct by 2019 and adding a precinct for the north end of the county. How important do you think new buildings are, and how high a priority will they be for you if elected to office?
A: The KCSO strategic plan implemented success indicators to evaluate the effectiveness. Based on the document, none of the indicators have been successful. The result is a failed plan. From my experience teaching operational planning in the United States Navy, I can see there is no clear evidence of measurable goals. This is something any strategic plan must have, and I will be sure to include it in the new strategic plan, focusing on staffing and adding a north end precinct. The priority should be opening up the existing facility in Silverdale full time, as well as developing an effective north precinct office. It is unreasonable to expect people on Bainbridge Island to commute to Port Orchard for services such as fingerprinting and permits. One of my top priorities after increasing the staff at the precincts will be to establish a North Kitsap Sheriff’s Office precinct.
Q: Counties in Washington state have the ability to impose a public safety sales tax for criminal justice purposes, with the approval of voters, ranging from 1/10th of 1 percent to 3/10th of 1 percent. Do you think this is something Kitsap County should pursue?
A: I will support what the people of this county want to pursue; however, right now the rising cost of living and increasing state level levy taxes have put a significant burden on Kitsap County residents. The priority should be reallocating existing funds to support law enforcement, not increasing taxes. The top concerns are affordable housing and public safety. Increasing taxes will continue to hamper the ability for Kitsap County residents to pay for housing. The Board of Commissioners and Sheriff should be laser focused on prioritizing public safety over other expenses.
Q: The lack of mental health treatment at all levels in society is burdening jails and stretching other county resources, including law enforcement. What solutions will you advocate for other elected leaders to pursue to help those who are mentally ill get treatment and not become another crime statistic?
A: I have had many conversations with homeless individuals while volunteering and they all say there is no help. HB 1310 significantly hampered law enforcement response to mental health crises. If there is no imminent threat, law enforcement has no option to help. The goal was to shift response to mental health professionals; however, the resources do not exist. A law was created without the ability to execute it appropriately. The community caretaking function of law enforcement has been hampered and needs to be reversed. In the popular HBO documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, there are plain clothes officers in unmarked cars that respond to mental health crises. They listen, show compassion, and ultimately convince people to go to a crisis intervention center for community resources to help mentally ill get treatment. I will implement creative methods such as this to shift mental health responses in Kitsap to what has worked effectively in other areas of the country.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Election 2022: Q&A with sheriff candidates John Gese, Rick Kuss
