A Bremerton police detective allegedly caught on video stealing cash while he and other officers executed a search warrant in February 2019 resigned Saturday after facing termination.

Detective Jeffrey Inklebarger, who was hired by the department in 2004 and worked with the department's Special Operations Group as a narcotics detective, was placed on paid leave Dec. 13 after the department learned of the video.

Tacoma police conducted the investigation and turned over part of its report to Bremerton police on Friday.

Inklebarger has not been charged with a crime and has not been arrested but he could face criminal charges.

Kitsap County Prosecutor Chad Enright said authorities will review other cases in which Inklebarger was involved before making a charging decision.

Police chief, officer's attorney respond to video

Police Chief Jim Burchett said that based on his viewing of the video, he gave Inklebarger notice of his intent to fire him.

“There is no reasonable explanation for the actions that I am watching,” Burchett said, saying his reaction to the video was shock, disbelief and betrayal.

“I love this department, and we have incredible people working here, and he let them down,” Burchett told the Kitsap Sun.

Inklebarger had a meeting scheduled Monday morning with Burchett where he could have shared information in his defense. But he issued noticed of his resignation through his attorney on Saturday, Burchett said.

Joe Kuhlman, an attorney representing Inklebarger, wrote in a statement to the Kitsap Sun that aside from Inklebarger's service as a police officer, he is a military veteran who has long battled PTSD.

“Unfortunately we find ourselves in a situation where the local government has given more information to the media than Mr. Inklebarger's own counsel,” Kuhlman wrote. “Until we have an opportunity to review the evidence disseminated to the media we, unfortunately, can't make any comment."

What does the video show?

The home security video, which the Kitsap Sun has obtained, shows Inklebarger pocketing what appears to be money while picking through the woman’s belongings. In his report of the search, Inklebarger wrote that he seized meth, heroin, pills and $25.

The target of the Feb. 26, 2019, search, a 45-year-old Bremerton woman who according to reports admitted to selling drugs, said $600 went missing. She had placed the cameras in her house, said her attorney, Jeniece LaCross.

“She just has them to make sure nobody messes with her stuff,” LaCross said.

LaCross said it would not be possible to prove the exact amount that went missing.

“Not by video,” she said.

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The woman has not been arrested or charged with a crime. She cooperated with the investigation into Inklebarger, and Enright said prosecutors agreed not to use statements she made in the course of that investigation against her.

Enright also said prosecuting the woman based on the investigation in which Inklebarger participated would face challenges in court.

“A future prosecution is very unlikely given the evidentiary issues caused by Officer Inklebarger,” Enright said.

Burchett said news of the alleged theft has been difficult for Inklebarger’s fellow officers, however, he is grateful that the woman came forward with the video.

“I would rather know, put a stop to it and correct it,” Burchett said.

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Woman cooperates with authorities

Following the search, officers wanted the woman to work as a confidential informant, LaCross said, where she would set up other drug users and dealers by conducting “controlled buys.” It was through controlled buys that detectives had built their case against the woman, according to reports provided by the department.

The woman began to suspect something was wrong immediately after the search when she told officers she had cash at her house that they likely seized, LaCross said.

When told the officers seized only $25, LaCross said the woman indicated they must have missed the money.

The woman told LaCross at that time that Inklebarger told her, in front of other officers, “I have pictures, there was only $25.”

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The woman declined to work for police as an informant then hired LaCross and gave her the video. LaCross said for the next several months she checked with police and prosecutors to see if charges were filed or if the complaint used to obtain the search warrant from a judge was unsealed. LaCross said Friday she has yet to see the complaint.

During that time, the woman was concerned about being charged with a crime and the fact she believed an officer had stolen from her.

“She was concerned there was this dirty cop out there,” LaCross said.

In December, LaCross went to Enright and, without naming her client, informed him she had a video showing what appeared to be a theft by an officer. LaCross said Enright must have used what information he had to find the search warrant and contacted Burchett, who then contacted LaCross and asked to see the video.

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LaCross agreed, and showed Burchett the video, adding that she felt Burchett and Enright dealt with the incident appropriately.

LaCross also said from the video that it appeared Inklebarger was looking out for other officers, indicating to her that he was acting alone and trying to conceal what he was doing.

“I believe that,” she said. “He was very sneaky when he did it.”

In a prepared statement, Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler said what is seen on the video is not representative of the department.

“The Bremerton police have a reputation of being respectful, courteous and professional and are focused on maintaining the trust and confidence of the public,” Wheeler said.

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