Port Orchard police brief council on Nov. 20 South Kitsap High School incident; chief apologizes for unclear messaging

Port Orchard's police chief updated the City Council on a Nov. 20 incident at South Kitsap High School in which two students sustained head injuries.

The chief said officers were dispatched at 10:58 a.m. and arrived three minutes later. They found a 15-year-old female receiving care in the nurse's office and another 15-year-old male who had been struck; both were later taken to local hospitals for further treatment. Officers identified and arrested a 16-year-old suspect in the classroom at 11:13 a.m.; the suspect was booked into the Kitsap Juvenile Detention Center and additional charges may be filed by the prosecutor's office.

Addressing the council, the chief apologized for confusing earlier messaging: "I could have done better, and for that, I apologize." He said he "fully support[s] the officer's decision to make the arrest," that the officers' actions were within policy and legally permissible, and that no officers were disciplined in connection with the response. Council members praised the department's response time and suggested greater coordination with the school district, including discussion of a school resource officer to support student-safety goals.

The chief said the department and school leadership will coordinate on communications and after-action debriefs to improve messaging in the future.