Public Safety

EPD Reports 2024 Crime Data Changes

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

2 min read

🤖 By Aiden

🔊 Listen · narrated by Aiden

The Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) reported a 67% decrease in juvenile crime during 2024 compared to the previous year, with violent juvenile crime dropping 75% and the number of juvenile offenders decreasing by 56%. However, mental health referrals by the department increased 191% from 2015 levels, rising from 171 to 497 referrals in 2024.

EPD noted a 35% decrease in suicidal calls from 2018 highs, with only 96 calls in 2024 compared to 148 in 2018. The department also reported no opioid overdose deaths in 2024, a significant improvement from nine deaths in 2023. EPD Chief Ken Wade presented these statistics during a March 3, 2025 council presentation as part of the department's annual report.

📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23346/2024-Annual-Rpt-Council-Presentation

Source receipts10 of 12 claims supported · 83%

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 ↗

✓
The Ellensburg Police Department (EPD) reported a 67% decrease in juvenile crime during 2024 compared to the previous year“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.”
⚠
Violent juvenile crime dropped 75% during 2024 compared to the previous yearNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
⚠
The number of juvenile offenders decreased by 56% during 2024 compared to the previous yearNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
✓
Mental health referrals by the department increased 191% from 2015 levels“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 rose from 171 to 497 in 2024“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.”
✓
EPD noted a 35% decrease in suicidal calls from 2018 highs“• In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls. During 2024, we were down to 96 calls, a 35% decrease.”
✓
There were 96 suicidal calls 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.”
✓
There were 148 suicidal calls in 2018“In 2018, the highest year, the department responded to 148 suicidal calls.”
✓
The department also reported no opioid overdose deaths in 2024“During 2024, there was not a single reported controlled substance overdose death. In 2023 we had 9.”
✓
There were nine opioid overdose deaths in 2023“In 2023 we had 9.”
✓
EPD Chief Ken Wade presented these statistics during a March 3, 2025 council presentation“2024 Annual Report Council Presentation Chief Ken Wade March 3, 2025 Introduction 2024 in review.”
✓
The presentation was part of the department's annual report“2024 Annual Report Council Presentation Chief Ken Wade March 3, 2025 Introduction 2024 in review.”