Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) reported a 67% decrease in juvenile crime in 2024, with violent crime among youth down 75%, according to their annual report presented March 3, 2025. The report also noted a 191% increase in mental health referrals since 2015, reaching 497 in 2024, while suicide-related calls decreased by 35% from 2018 levels. EPD recorded no opioid overdose deaths in 2024 compared to nine in 2023, with officers administering NARCAN six times. EPD's annual report highlighted new programs including the CHASE initiative with Central Washington University and a focus on data-driven crime reduction strategies.
Ellensburg Police Department Reports 2024 Annual Changes
🔊 Listen · narrated by Aiden
📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23346/2024-Annual-Rpt-Council-Presentation
Source receipts11 of 12 claims supported · 92%
Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) reported a 67% decrease in juvenile crime in 2024“During 2024, juvenile crime decreased by 67%, crimes of violence decrease 75% and the total individuals decreased by 56%, but we experienced a juvenile gang related murder.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) presented their annual report on March 3, 2025“2024 Annual Report Council Presentation Chief Ken Wade March 3, 2025 Introduction 2024 in review.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) reported a 75% decrease in violent crime among youth in 2024“During 2024, juvenile crime decreased by 67%, crimes of violence decrease 75% and the total individuals decreased by 56%, but we experienced a juvenile gang related murder.”
- ✓The report noted a 191% increase in mental health referrals since 2015“In 2015, the Ellensburg Police Department made 171 mental health referrals. During calendar year 2024 that number has increased to 497, a 191% increase over 10 years and it is continuing to grow.”
- ✓Mental health referrals reached 497 in 2024“During calendar year 2024 that number has increased to 497, a 191% increase over 10 years and it is continuing to grow.”
- ✓Suicide-related calls decreased by 35% from 2018 levels“In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls. During 2024, we were down to 96 calls, a 35% decrease.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) recorded no opioid overdose deaths in 2024“During 2024, there was not a single reported controlled substance overdose death. In 2023 we had 9.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) recorded nine opioid overdose deaths in 2023“In 2023 we had 9.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) officers administered NARCAN six times in 2024“During 2024 officers administered NARCAN 6 times to subjects who overdosed on an opioid.”
- ⚠Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) highlighted new programs in their annual reportNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) included the CHASE initiative with Central Washington University in their new programs“Community Health & Safety Experience (CHASE) Program – Program to improve policing in the future, in partnership with CWU. This program will expose participants to the reality of todays policing through exposure to homelessness, mental health, substance abuse and our various partners. Through this program CWU students who qualify can receive work experience credits. This program is also open to non-student participants interested in a career in the criminal justice field.”
- ✓Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) focused on data-driven crime reduction strategies in their annual report“Refining and utilizing data to efficiently guide our proactive work.”
The Ellensburg Wire is free. Get Ellensburg's news delivered every morning.