PORT ANGELES — Two new police officers are patrolling the streets with training officers, learning the ropes from seasoned veterans of the Port Angeles Police Department.
Officers Jared Tait, 36, of Port Angeles and Anthony Bush, 30, of Sequim graduated from the 19-week Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien and are completing their training to become full-fledged officers in the department this summer.
They were hired in 2014 to replace two officers who had retired earlier that year.
“The Port Angeles Police Department is proud to have these fine officers join our ranks, and we are particularly pleased to have been given the opportunity to hire qualified people from this area,” said Police Chief Terry Gallagher.
Tait, a former U.S. Army Kiowa helicopter pilot, graduated from the academy April 28.
He is expected to complete the 14-to-16-week field training and evaluation program in late August.
Bush worked as a substance abuse counselor in Port Angeles and Forks, and graduated from the academy in March.
He is expected to complete the program in mid-July.
Under the field training and evaluation program, the new officers are assigned to experienced, state-trained and certified training officers, and get daily reviews and constant feedback in 23 areas of job performance.
The Police Department has funding for 32 positions, including three administrators, six detectives, a school resource officer, a downtown/patrol officer, two patrol sergeants, four patrol corporals and 15 patrol officers, said Deputy Chief Brian Smith.
Currently, the department has two openings — one for a detective and one for an administrative sergeant.
Sgt. Barb McFall, who was the administrative sergeant, retired from the police department in April.
The department hopes to replace the two open positions with patrol officers, Smith said.
‘Patrol is our priority’
“Patrol is our priority right now,” he said.
In December, the department had to reduce traffic patrols so officers could concentrate on emergency calls and criminal complaints.
Typically, at least four patrol officers are on duty at any one time, around the clock.
Detectives primarily investigate crimes against people, while patrol officers investigate property crime.
Patrol officers are responsible for investigating any crimes for which they take reports, and most patrol officers have 10 or 15 property crimes to work at any one time.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.