Law & Justice Day was held February 11, 2022 at the Kitsap County Administration Building in Port Orchard. Class members took an in-depth look at Kitsap’s law and justice institutions. It was a powerful day reflective of our Positive Leadership capacity of Community Building.
“Community Building is about providing people with a platform to be their best selves. The more meaningfully connected we are to our communities, the better versions of ourselves we become.” – Adam Seaman, Positive Leadership
Project Co-Chairs Michael Collins (LK20) and Jenny Higgs (LK20) kicked off the day with project team reports followed by a discussion of our Positive Leadership capacity of Community Building facilitated by Curriculum Chair Ashley Oaksmith (LK18). Participant shared, “Building community is essential in my profession. Today helped me see community building in a new way.” “[Community Building] is the basis for all positive change.”
Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Menge (LK17), facilitated a law enforcement panel discussion with Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese (LK04), Suquamish Police Chief Mike Lasnier, and Poulsbo Police Chief Ron Harding. The panel addressed the challenges of working within recent Washington State legislation. Discussion about how various agencies collaborate to protect and serve reinforced the day’s Community Building theme. One participant reflected on the discussion, “I learned how much passion police officers have for keeping the community safe.” Chief Harding shared, “People want to live in a community governed by law, protected by people they trust.”
Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes (LK09) and District Court Judge Claire Bradley (LK07) participated in a Courts panel discussion reflecting on the many challenges of judicating during a pandemic. Both identified mental health issues as an increased public health crisis.
In the afternoon, the class was given a tour of the Kitsap County jail facility led by Chief of Corrections Penelope Sapp (LK11) and Sgt. Scott Billingsley (LK16) followed by a powerful discussion of re-entry and rehabilitation with Chief Sapp.
Our Law & Justice Day was an impactful and engaging day of learning how our community is coming together to serve, protect, defend, and restore Kitsap. Thank you to our many presenters, and to Kitsap County Administration for hosting us, Panera Bread for morning coffee service, and the Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, and Sanchez, Mitchell, Eastman, & Cure, PSC Attorneys at Law for sponsoring the day.