Rush County Sheriff's Office

10/31/2026

It is not very often you see Rush County Law-enforcement with donuts lol. We have plenty for anyone that wants to come down to the auditorium in La Crosse. The 4H trunk or treat is just getting started.

10/27/2026

We had a great morning visiting with the students at La Crosse Elementary School and talking about pedestrian safety! 🚸

We enjoyed sharing important safety tips to help keep our kids safe while walking to and from school.

Looking forward to visiting Otis-Bison Elementary School this afternoon!

Keeping our kids safe, one step at a time!

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10/27/2026

🚸 Day 3 of Pedestrian Safety!

We’re continuing to make sure our kids feel safe, confident, and comfortable crossing the street on their own.

Tomorrow, we’ll be visiting both schools to talk about pedestrian safety and hand out some special goodie bags!

Keeping our kids safe is always a priority!

10/23/2026

Getting ready to take everything to the schools next week

10/23/2026

A MESSAGE FROM THE SHERIFF: TRAFFIC SIGNAL & STUDENT SAFETY IN LA CROSSE

I understand everyone’s concerns regarding the traffic signal at 5th Street and Highway 183 (Main Street). Although not functioning properly, it continues flashing amber on Highway 183 and red on 5th Street, providing some traffic control.

For two consecutive mornings, I personally visited the intersection to educate students about crossing safely. We discussed watching traffic, looking both directions, walking bicycles across, and never relying solely on traffic signals or the right-of-way. Just because you have the right-of-way doesn’t mean a vehicle will stop.

The Sheriff’s Office will also visit elementary schools the week before Halloween to teach pedestrian safety for Halloween and year-round. Every student will receive a gift bag containing reflective armbands and other items.

During both mornings of me watching the intersection and speaking to the kids, our only other deputy was handling calls elsewhere in the county. Had assistance been needed, I would have had to leave the intersection.

The City of La Crosse is NOT neglecting this issue. Officials are working toward a solution, including considering alternative warning systems. Repairs are roughly estimated at $50,000, while replacement could cost $300,000–$600,000. These are preliminary estimates, not official quotes.

I encourage concerned residents to attend City Council meetings and participate in finding solutions.

Parents, please educate your children about crossing safely. Motorists, slow down and stay alert. After more than 20 years in law enforcement, I’ve seen how quickly distracted driving can cause tragedy.

Our goal isn’t simply a functioning traffic signal. It’s making sure every child gets to school safely and returns home safely.

Community First – Constitution Always.

-Sheriff Mark A. Knowles

10/21/2026

Halloween morning at the La Crosse City Auditorium, we will be joining the 4H trunk or treat fair from 9am until noon! Ellie will be there for part of it, we will be discussing some last minute trick or treat safety tips, and we are bringing the doughnuts!!!! So come have doughnuts with the COPS, as well as many other fun events!

10/19/2026

— The Rush County Sheriff’s Office continues making progress on its Mobile Communications and Incident Command Trailer, thanks to generous contributions from businesses, organizations, and community partners.

Midland Marketing and the CHS Foundation recently joined a growing list of sponsors, including Walmart locations in Great Bend and Hays, Nex-Tech Wireless, Flame Engineering, Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (KWORCC), Dr. Todd Wagner, and Blue Compass RV.

The trailer is currently being outfitted at Superior Emergency Response Vehicles in Andover, Kansas, where it is being transformed into a mobile communications and incident command center.

The primary purpose of the trailer is to provide the Sheriff’s Office with an alternative operational location if its existing facilities are damaged or become unusable during a tornado, severe storm, or other disaster. It will also allow emergency personnel to establish a mobile command post closer to major incidents throughout Rush County.

The trailer will serve as a valuable resource during tornadoes, large-scale fires, missing-person searches, mass-casualty incidents, and other emergencies requiring coordination between law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and additional responding agencies.

One of the Sheriff’s Office’s priorities has been completing this project without requesting additional funding from the county’s regular operating budget. In addition to sponsorships and donations, funding from the Sheriff Equipment Fund, VIN inspection funds, and registered offender funds has helped move the project forward.

The project is about preparing for the unexpected while remaining financially responsible. If the Sheriff’s Office takes a direct or indirect hit from a tornado or other disaster, maintaining the ability to communicate, coordinate emergency operations, and continue serving the public is essential. Having a mobile command center will also allow emergency operations to be established closer to an incident, improving coordination and response capabilities.

The Sheriff’s Office continues working toward completion of the trailer as additional equipment and resources become available.

The Rush County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to every business, organization, and individual who has helped make this project possible. These partnerships are helping build a valuable emergency response resource that could make a tremendous difference when Rush County communities need it most.

10/17/2026

🚨🌪️ BIGGER STORM SHELTERS — SAME PRICE!

We have an exciting opportunity with our Neighbors Protecting Neighbors initiative!

The construction company building our storm shelters has offered to make them 2 feet larger in each direction at NO ADDITIONAL COST!

That means increasing capacity from 50 to 65 people per shelter — 15 MORE LIVES we can help protect!

⏳ THE CATCH? We need to secure funding before concrete prices increase!

❤️ WE NEED YOUR HELP! Every donation and sponsorship gets us closer to making this happen.

📞 Contact the Rush County Sheriff’s Office TODAY!

More room. More protection. Same price.

🌪️ Neighbors Protecting Neighbors — Community First, Constitution Always.

10/15/2026