PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners approved a renewed agreement with a 10-agency investigative unit known as the Kitsap Critical Incident Response Team.
“I have no issues. I’m happy to be part of that regional effort,” said Clallam County Commissioner Mike French at the commissioners’ May 20 work session.
Amy Bundy, Clallam County chief criminal deputy, said KCIRT is 10 accredited law enforcement agencies brought together to meet a new state law regarding law enforcement investigations that involve application of deadly force, application of serious bodily injury and/or vehicular collisions that result in such.
KCIRT is currently investigating the May 3 officer-involved shooting outside a bank in downtown Port Angeles.
The agency is providing weekly updates as required by law.
Joseph Jacob Hadden, 38, of Port Angeles died in the May 3 incident after two Port Angeles police officers responded to Chase Bank’s hold-up alarm.
Bundy said the incident resulted in an “immediate callout” of KCIRT law enforcement agencies.
“I went there as incident commander to relieve the city cops from that scene entirely,” Bundy said.
“And then KCIRT shows up, people from all 10 jurisdictions as detectives, everybody who is available. I think we had close to 20 detectives here during the incident from various agencies.”
If any of the 10 participating law enforcement agencies are involved in an incident the team is investigating, then that agency recuses itself, Bundy said.
“And it’s been amazing relationship building among the resources,” she said. “At this point, we could call Kitsap for anything and they’re going to show up, and vice versa.”
The agencies consist of the Washington State Patrol, police departments from Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Shelton, Sequim and Port Angeles, and the sheriff’s offices from Clallam and Kitsap counties.
The Port Angeles City Council recently renewed the city police department’s participation in the group.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached by email at brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
