Patrol Division

There are 21 Officers assigned to the Patrol section.  When fully staffed twenty of these Officers are assigned to four patrol squads with five officers on each squad.  Patrol squads work a 12-hour shift ranging from 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am.  It’s important to point out that this is an optimum staffing schedule but due to vacancies, vacation, training and sick leave, full staffing levels are not always realized.  The Operations Captain oversees the Patrol section and works closely with the Patrol Sergeants towards achieving the Department’s goals and objectives.  A fulltime School Resource Officer is assigned to the Patrol section and supplements the day shift squads when school is not in session.   

Patrol Officers provide several layers of service to the community to include investigating crime scenes, participating in community outreach programs and conducting traffic enforcement.  Their duties include patrolling around local schools and neighborhoods and responding to a variety of calls for service ranging from noise complaints to family violence.  The basic nature of a Police Officer’s job is both the most exciting and most dangerous, they never know what their next dispatched call or encounter will be.   They must be always alert for their safety and the safety of the community they serve, while at the same time being an approachable servant to the citizens of Ellensburg.  Patrol Officers can’t be the solution for every need in the community, but they are often the first resource to respond to a crisis or need within the community.  We have partnered with local service providers to assist individuals suffering from substance use disorder or mental health issues.  Officers will provide people in need with a resource card and help facilitate them getting in direct contact with a resource provider.

We have embraced the “We Are You” moto to emphasize our Officers are part of and from the community they serve.  They shop where you shop, their kids go to school with your kids, participate in similar social functions, and are as committed as you are to providing a safe community to raise your family in. Sir Robert Peel said it best in one of his 9 principles of law enforcement;

 “The police at all times should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the intent of the community welfare.”

                                -Sir Robert Peel


Officers provide the staffing to patrol the City of Ellensburg 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.


Many officers have specialized training in

  • Firearms
  • Defensive Tactics
  • Emergency Vehicle Operations
  • First Aid/CPR/AED
  • Traffic Accident Investigations
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Field Training of New Officers
  • Response to Unusual Occurrences


Motors

The Motors Unit for the Ellensburg Police Department focuses on traffic safety in areas where patrol cars wouldn't be as effective. 

School Resource Officer

The School Resource Officer (SRO) is a resource throughout the school system and performs the functions of a law enforcement officer, and law-related educator.  Ellensburg Reserve Officers supplement the SRO program during school athletic events and other security details. 


Reserve Officers

The Ellensburg Police Department re-established its Reserve Officer Program in the Spring of 2009. Reserve officers have had a long history with the Ellensburg Police Department. Many of our current officers, including our Operations Captain and three Sergeants began their law enforcement careers as Ellensburg Police Reserve Officers.


The SRO and Reserve Officer's responsibilities include

  • Providing security for students and staff members during school hours and after school functions like sporting events and dances.
  • Assisting visitors to the schools by ensuring they sign in and out.
  • Traffic control while students and parents are coming to and from schools.
  • Parking enforcement at the high school.
  • Reporting any disciplinary issues observed to school administrators.
  • Classroom educational presentations.