One-stop justice creates problems | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 11:42 am Monday, October 12, 2015

To the editor:

The Bainbridge Review recently reported on an incident concerning information shared by our Bainbridge Island Police Department Police Chief with another police department. This act is now under investigation to determine whether open discussions and shared information between the different departments are legal.

The courts will decide this one, but it does represent an element that I find troubling as it relates to the bond issue for the island’s proposed, combined police/court facility adjacent to city hall.

Our police, by definition, are classified under the executive branch of government. I worry that housing both the police department and the judicial branch together breaks down a balance of powers. When the police and the judicial branch are literally under the same roof, sharing the same facilities, conversations and potential for sharing information about legal matters may be way beyond what is legal. It would place our check and balance system in jeopardy.

It is so important that information is not improperly shared and that conversations do not extend beyond the law. After reading last week’s newspaper, improper conversations and the sharing of information has already presented itself as a problem.

I would hate to see a one-stop-shop as our form of justice. Please consider maintaining the separations guaranteed to us by our existing, separate police, court, and city hall facilities as you vote this November.

ANDY ROVELSTAD

Bainbridge Island