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Port Orchard ratifies police contract; chief says two new officers joining next week
Summary
Council approved a consolidated 2025–2027 collective bargaining agreement with the Port Orchard Police Guild. Chief Brown told council two newly hired officers start next week but will not be fully independent until academy training is complete. He also noted legislative discussion about possible peninsula training facility funding.
The Port Orchard City Council on Jan. 28 approved a consolidated collective bargaining agreement covering patrol officers and sergeants for 2025–2027, and Police Chief Brown reported staffing gains and regional training discussions.
Director Lund presented the negotiated agreement, saying the city and the guild had been meeting since October and that the tentative agreement had been ratified by the guild, subject to council approval. Lund said the draft had been provided to council under attorney-client privilege and thanked the bargaining teams for a productive process.
Chief Brown told the council the department has two new officers starting next week; he cautioned that, due to academy scheduling and training, those officers will not be fully independent immediately. Brown also said he was aware of legislative conversation about funding to assess a peninsula training facility that would serve local agencies.
Why it matters: the labor agreement finalizes terms for the police bargaining units for the next three years and the new hires will increase patrol staffing after an extended hiring/training timeline.
What council members said: Council members thanked staff and the guild for productive negotiations and described the outcome as a “win-win” for the city and employees.
Next steps: the mayor was authorized to execute the agreement and the police department will continue onboarding and training the new officers.
