Kitsap commissioners advance interim sheriff process as Givens sale is planned in Port Orchard

Kitsap County’s transition to an interim sheriff moved forward in Port Orchard after Sheriff John Gese announced his retirement, effective June 26, 2026. County commissioners publicly interviewed three nominees on July 14 as they worked through the constitutional appointment process.

The county said commissioners had 60 days after the vacancy to appoint an interim sheriff. The available county materials do not identify a final appointment following the interviews, so the outcome remains unconfirmed in this report.

Three nominees interviewed

The Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee nominated Ken Dickinson, Jeffrey Menge and Brandon Myers for consideration. The commissioners’ public interviews took place at the county administration building in Port Orchard.

The appointment will determine interim leadership for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office during the transition following Gese’s retirement. Because the sheriff’s office provides countywide public-safety leadership, the process affects residents and public agencies throughout Kitsap County, including people who rely on the county for law-enforcement services.

The county’s stated timeline gives commissioners a 60-day appointment window after the June 26 vacancy. The public interview date was July 14. No later official appointment is identified in the approved county materials reviewed for this report.

Givens Community Center sale targeted for summer 2027

The county also announced plans to list the Givens Community Center building in Port Orchard for sale in summer 2027. The building houses the Port Orchard Senior Center and other long-term tenants, meaning a future sale could affect community services and organizations using the county-owned property.

Kitsap County said the building was constructed in 1940 and purchased by the county in 1992. County estimates put the minimum work needed to bring the building into code compliance at $3.5 million. Full rehabilitation could cost as much as $30 million, and the county said rehabilitation was financially infeasible.

The available sources do not identify a buyer, a completed sale process or a relocation plan for the senior center and other tenants. The county’s stated target is to list the building in summer 2027; the announcement does not say that Givens will close immediately.

Other Port Orchard projects

A separate March 31 report from Kitsap Daily News said Port Orchard projects received $9 million in support during the state legislative session. It identified the Sedgwick Roundabout Project as expected to be completed later in 2026 and reported that the city had requested $8 million from the supplemental transportation budget for that project.

The county also says its courthouse receives close to 230,000 visitors annually. The available materials do not establish that any courthouse modernization has been approved or funded. Together, the sheriff appointment, the Givens decision and other civic projects place several public-service questions before officials and the people who use county facilities in Port Orchard.