This month, the Sheriff’s Office and Kittitas County Search and Rescue (KCSR) completed the long-anticipated move of county Search And Rescue (SAR) equipment and vehicles from Ellensburg to an improved facility and location in Cle Elum. Sheriff Myers made this move a goal in 2019, and it came about with the support of the Board of County Commissioners, the county Department of Public Works, and the City of Cle Elum.
The Sheriff’s Office works together with the volunteers of KCSR to respond to SAR missions county-wide. The number and complexity of SAR missions has grown in recent years, particularly in the upper county, where public lands are accessed by both residents and large numbers of out-of-county visitors. Moving SAR operations to a Cle Elum base will reduce response times to people injured or endangered in remote areas and will ultimately save lives.
This relocation of SAR is the first step in a plan to grow the presence and abilities of the Sheriff’s Office in the upper county. In this plan, the current, leased facility will give way to a new purpose-built SAR and Emergency Management facility near Cle Elum. Ultimately, a full-service Upper County Precinct will work together with Cle Elum Police and other local first responders to meet all the Law Enforcement and public safety needs of our growing population.
Sheriff Myers stated, “We’re grateful for the support of the City of Cle Elum and our County Commissioners, who worked with us to make this move possible. We look forward to the work ahead as we build to meet the needs of the fastest growing parts our county.”
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