Press Releases and Public Service Announcements

Sheriff's Office Public Information Survey Results 01/23/2026
WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC: 2026 PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY. At the start of this year, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office invited the public to share feedback on how we communicate about public safety, emergencies, and our work in the community. More than 470 people took the time to respond. We appreciate that engagement and want to share what we learned—and how we plan to use it.
Burn Ban for Kittitas County Starts July 1 06/25/2025
The Fire Marshal has issued a burn ban and a ban on fireworks in unincorporated Kittitas County starting at 00:01 am on July 1, 2025.
Kittitas County Jail Awarded State Accreditation 05/28/2025
Of the 56 city and county-run jails in Washington, just eight have achieved accreditation by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), and the Kittitas County Jail (KCJ) is now one of them. KCJ’s new accredited status was recognized by WASPC on May 21, 2025.
Kittitas County Sheriff's Office Conducts Human Trafficking Operation 05/23/2025
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office has concluded a two-day human trafficking operation targeting sex trafficking networks in our county. The Ellensburg and Othello Police Departments provided essential support for this operation.
Two arrested for January Robbery, Kidnapping, and Attempted Murder 04/16/2025
At 9:20 pm on January 21, an injured woman flagged down a passing car on I-90 near milepost 57 near Snoqualmie Pass. The driver called 911 and drove her to nearby medics and law enforcement. She was transported to Harborview Hospital.

The woman told detectives she was abducted at her apartment in the south Seattle area by three Venezuelan men who stole $20,000 in gold jewelry she had purchased for her business. They pushed her into their car, threatened to kill her and her family, and tortured her with a power drill to get her bank account information. Finally, they drove to Snoqualmie Pass, pushed her over a concrete barrier along I-90, and shot her. She lay still in the snow as the men drove away, leaving her for dead. The men returned to the woman’s apartment, where they stole her car.
County Burn Ban to Lift Saturday October 19 10/18/2024
Dan Young, Kittitas County Fire Marshal, today announced that Kittitas County will lift the county wide burn ban effective October 19th at 0001 hours.
Kittitas County Search and Rescue Finalist for Defender Service Award 10/02/2024
Kittitas County Search and Rescue, a non-profit, wholly volunteer organization that aids the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office in Search and Rescue operations, has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2024 Land Rover Defender Service Award.
Burn Ban Lifted for Recreational Fires in Kittitas County 09/18/2024
Kittitas County Fire Marshal Dan Young today announced that Kittitas County will lift the burn ban for recreational fires at 00:01 AM on Friday September 20th, 2024. This change is effective only on county lands; those who want to burn recreational fires on Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Department of Natural Resource land will need to contact those jurisdictions. The Cities of Cle Elum, South Cle Elum and Rosyln are also allowing recreational fires at the same time as the county.
Kittitas County Jail Implements Innovative Inmate Safety Program 07/12/2024
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office recently implemented the OverWatch™ system, an innovative inmate health monitoring solution by 4Sight Labs, to enhance safety and security in the Kittitas County Jail (KCJ). KCJ is the first facility in the state of Washington to adopt this advanced safety system.
Burn Ban Extends to All Kittitas County Saturday July 13 07/11/2024
Kittitas County is currently experiencing dry conditions which elevate the risk of wild land fires. In the interest of public safety, starting at 0001 hrs. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, a burn ban will be in effect encompassing all of Kittitas County. This is in addition to the lower county burn ban put in place on July 9, 2024. The Town of South Cle Elum and the Cities of Cle Elum and Roslyn will also be joining in the ban.
Citizen Commended for Deputy Assist 04/30/2024
Today, April 30, Sheriff Myers presented a Citizen Commendation to Steven Pearson of Buckley.
Thwarted Burglary Near Ellensburg part of Organized, Targeted Crime Trend 02/09/2024
Around 7:30 pm on Tuesday February 6, a home in the Grasslands area of Kittitas County just east of Ellensburg was burglarized by three Hispanic males. Investigation has shown the crime was part of an organized ring of burglaries and thefts targeting the owners of Asian and Indian small businesses.
Kittitas County Sheriff's Office Receives Accreditation Award 11/16/2023
This week the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office was accredited by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).
Kittitas County Jail receives $800k Grant from US DOJ 09/28/2023
The Kittitas County Jail (KCJ) has been awarded a US Department of Justice grant of $797,044 to treat inmates with substance use disorders or addictions. The grant will support the jail’s Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program, which started under a similar $600,000 grant in 2020. The increase in funds for this second three-year grant period will provide increased nursing staff and counseling services.
Disabled-Parking Violation Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrest 09/27/2023
On Tuesday morning, 9/26, Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Meckley observed a Ford pickup parked in a disabled-parking stall at the Pilot truck stop in west Ellensburg with no disabled-parking license plate or placard displayed. When he ran the license plate of the truck, it did return to a Ford pickup; but the registration was for a dark green truck, and this pickup was white.
Burn Ban Lifted for Kittitas County 09/25/2023
Kittitas County Fire Marshal, today announced that Kittitas County will lift the county wide burn ban effective September 25, 2023 at noon.
22-Year Old Ellensburg Man Killed in One-Vehicle Accident 09/18/2023
Last night, 9/17, shortly after 11 PM, KCSO Deputies and EPD Officers responded to a report of an apparent one-vehicle rollover collision on Naneum Road, north of Vantage Highway and east of Ellensburg.
Wanted Missing Person Found Deceased West of Cle Elum 08/19/2023
Today, Saturday 8/19, deputies worked with Kittitas County Search & Rescue dogs and handlers to locate the deceased missing wanted person, Fernando Flores.
Washington's Changing Drug Laws 08/11/2023
This Monday, August 14, 2023, brings an important step in the right direction for Washington drug laws. In 2021, our State Supreme Court found constitutional problems with our old drug laws, and state drug law has been an unenforceable mess ever since. Fortunately, citizens demanded an end to the devastation of unchecked hard drugs, and Washington’s laws have been re-balanced. These changes take effect on Monday, and Kittitas County's Sheriff's Office wants to let our community know what to expect.
Burn Ban implemented in the Upper County 08/03/2023

Kittitas County is currently experiencing dry conditions along with lowering relative humidity and low fuel moisture content of 10-, 100- and 1,000-hour fuels, elevates the risk of wild land fires. In the interest of public safety, starting at 0001 hrs. on Saturday, August 5th, 2023, a burn ban will be in effect encompassing all of Kittitas County. The Cities of Roslyn, South Cle Elum and Cle Elum will also be joining in the ban.