Ellensburg Police Department reported a 70% reduction in calls involving suicide attempts in 2024 compared to 2015, with only 14 calls recorded last year. This marks a significant decline from the 47 suicide attempts reported in 2015, according to the department's 2024 Annual Report presented to the City Council on March 3, 2025. The report also noted a 35% decrease in suicidal calls from 2018's high of 148 to 96 in 2024. While the department recorded an average of one suicide death call per year, the overall trend shows improved mental health crisis response. The data is part of the department's broader crime and intelligence analysis efforts to reduce crime and improve community quality of life.
Ellensburg Police Report Shows Declining Suicide Calls
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📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23346/2024-Annual-Rpt-Council-Presentation
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- ✓Ellensburg Police Department reported a 70% reduction in calls involving suicide attempts in 2024 compared to 2015“Calls involving a suicide attempt, where officers found evidence that an actual effort to commit suicide occurred, decreased dramatically in 2024, with only 14 calls, a 70% reduction from 2015, where we experienced our highest year, responding to 47 suicide attempts.”
- ✗Only 14 calls were recorded last year“Calls involving a suicide attempt, where officers found evidence that an actual effort to commit suicide occurred, decreased dramatically in 2024, with only 14 calls, a 70% reduction from 2015, where we experienced our highest year, responding to 47 suicide attempts.”
- ✓The 70% reduction in calls involving suicide attempts was compared to 2015“Calls involving a suicide attempt, where officers found evidence that an actual effort to commit suicide occurred, decreased dramatically in 2024, with only 14 calls, a 70% reduction from 2015, where we experienced our highest year, responding to 47 suicide attempts.”
- ✓The department's 2024 Annual Report was presented to the City Council on March 3, 2025“2024 Annual Report Council Presentation Chief Ken Wade March 3, 2025 Introduction 2024 in review.”
- ✓The report noted a 35% decrease in suicidal calls from 2018's high of 148“• In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls. During 2024, we were down to 96 calls, a 35% decrease.”
- ✓96 suicidal calls were recorded in 2024“• In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls. During 2024, we were down to 96 calls, a 35% decrease.”
- ✓The department recorded an average of one suicide death call per year“We average 1 suicide death call per year.”
- ✓The overall trend shows improved mental health crisis response“• In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls. During 2024, we were down to 96 calls, a 35% decrease. • Calls involving a suicide attempt, where officers found evidence that an actual effort to commit suicide occurred, decreased dramatically in 2024, with only 14 calls, a 70% reduction from 2015, where we experienced our highest year, responding to 47 suicide attempts.”
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