Leadership Changes in Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office
Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese has decided to step down from his position by the end of June, a move reportedly influenced by ongoing county funding challenges. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office confirmed this information to the Kitsap Sun. The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners released a statement on June 8, explaining that Gese, who had initially planned to retire after his term ends in December, will now leave on June 26. He will be joined by four other leaders within the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), including Undersheriff Russ Clithero, Chief of Detectives and Support Services Lisa Gundrum, Chief of Patrol Chad Birkenfeld, and Finance Manager Wendy Dutenhoeffer. These departures occur five months ahead of the November vote that will elect a new sheriff.
Gese has not yet made a public statement regarding his decision, but KCSO spokesman Kevin McCarty indicated that the move is largely tied to upcoming budget discussions and the fact that a new sheriff will take over in 2027. The county implemented a 3% cut across all departments in the current year's budget to address the gap between expenses and revenue. During these deliberations, Gese and several KCSO staff expressed concerns about potential cuts that could exacerbate staffing issues, particularly in the 2026 budget, where they aimed to save around $1.7 million.
"The sheriff wants to hand the decisions about what's going to happen with this agency, given those budget issues, to the next generation that will be running this agency," McCarty said. "The people who are going to have to live with those decisions are the people who should be making them."
McCarty noted that it is common for sheriffs to leave before an election, as a way of "handing over the reins." Gese first took on the role as an interim appointment when Gary Simpson retired in 2021, and he later ran for election in 2022, winning the position. This practice has occurred multiple times in elected county offices over the past 15 years, including recent appointments such as current Commissioner Christine Rolfes (appointed in 2023), County Clerk David Lewis (appointed in 2021), and others like former Clerk Alison Sonntag, former Commissioner Linda Streissguth in 2014, former Commissioner Rob Gelder in 2011, and former Treasurer Meredith Green in 2010. Each of these individuals was nominated by the Kitsap Democratic Party before their appointments and later ran for office as Democrats.
The Kitsap County Democratic Party will nominate candidates to serve as interim sheriff after Gese's departure, as it is an elected office. The selection will then be made by the Kitsap County board of commissioners.
Retirement Benefits and Timing
The other departing KCSO leaders had intended to leave within the next few months, according to McCarty, but an upcoming deadline related to retirement benefits has prompted those retiring to leave before July 1. To maximize retirement earnings, law enforcement must retire by the end of the month to meet eligibility for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the following year. COLA is an annual adjustment applied to retirement income to account for inflation once public employees have been retired for a year.
Community Engagement and Public Safety
Three community meetings to discuss public safety funding are scheduled to take place over the next couple of weeks. Beginning June 17, Gese will reportedly still join commissioners and Kitsap County Prosecutor Chad Enright to share information about budget shortfalls and potential solutions.
Although Gese's intention to retire and not seek re-election was announced a few months ago, his fast-approaching exit came as a surprise to commissioners and many others. KCSO Sgt. Brandon Myers, a current agency employee and the Democratic candidate in the upcoming sheriff's election, stated he was unaware of the decision and dismissed rumors surrounding the timing. "I have seen speculation and assumptions about what led to today’s announcement," Myers said in a statement. "I can only speak for myself: I did not know these decisions were coming, and today’s announcement was a shock. While others may choose to turn this into a political debate, my focus remains on the employees of the Sheriff’s Office and the people we serve."
Myers also expressed disappointment with the news, noting that significant leadership transitions in an agency of public service "naturally create uncertainty."
Rick Kuss, a Republican running for the second time for sheriff this fall, criticized the timing of Gese's exit. According to Kuss, multiple departures amid funding issues, staffing challenges, and a need for heightened operations to accommodate the FIFA World Cup are concerning. Kuss also alleged that the timing of Gese's exit is politically motivated. "The Patrol Division is the largest and most critical operational component of the Sheriff’s Office," Kuss said in a statement. "Promoting a Detective Sergeant directly into the Chief of Patrol position and then immediately positioning that individual for consideration as Interim Sheriff raises serious questions about whether succession politics are being prioritized over public safety and operational experience."
This story will be updated when more information is known.
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