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East Wenatchee police report: fentanyl-related deaths rise; K-9 program and SWAT deployments highlighted
Summary
Police Chief Johnson presented the department’s 2024 annual report showing a rise to 37 overdose deaths in Chelan and Douglas counties, large drug seizures by the local task force, roughly 7,500 calls for service, increased SWAT activity and details about the newly deployed K-9 program.
Chief Johnson delivered the East Wenatchee Police Department’s 2024 annual report at the March 18 council meeting, highlighting a rise in local overdose deaths, increased drug seizures and ongoing workload pressures for patrol staff.
Johnson said training hours averaged 117 per employee in 2024, well above the state minimum of 24 hours. He said Chelan and Douglas counties recorded 37 overdose deaths in 2024, up from 20 the prior year; he described most deaths as fentanyl and methamphetamine polydrug overdoses and said the region is part of a statewide fentanyl epidemic.
The county drug task force logged a large increase in fentanyl seizures, Johnson said, and reported seizing 5,520 grams of methamphetamine, more than 1,000 grams of cocaine, approximately 6,400 fentanyl pills and about 1,600 grams of fentanyl powder in 2024. He said the task force cleared 101 cases, with arrests in more than half.
On patrol workload, Johnson said East Wenatchee officers handled just over 7,500 calls for service in 2024, roughly 472 calls per officer for those assigned to patrol. He compared that to other agencies in the valley, noting Wenatchee’s higher call-per-officer rate.
Johnson reviewed a notable homicide investigation from summer 2024: the department located and arrested a suspect in a nationwide manhunt and the suspect has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced. He said East Wenatchee averages about one homicide every six years.
Johnson also discussed regional response capabilities. He said four East Wenatchee officers are assigned to a regional SWAT team that handled 21 callouts in 2024, higher than typical historical levels and reflecting greater regional use of specialized teams.
On K-9 staffing, Johnson said the department added K-9 “Maverick” with handler Officer Conley in September 2024. He said Maverick is primarily used for exterior vehicle and traffic searches and narcotics alerts to develop probable cause; Maverick is not presented as a community “demonstration” dog and typically works muzzled in public. Johnson said the K-9 program was supported by about $33,000 in grants and public donations and is treated as a regional asset used by multiple agencies.
School-resource officers handled 449 school-related calls, Johnson said. He closed by noting detective-division training and the department’s emphasis on cross-agency collaboration.
“We are in a statewide epidemic as far as fentanyl goes, and we are not immune from it here,” Johnson said during the presentation.
