Skagit County Sheriff's Office

10/30/2026

The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Skagit County Board of Commissioners for hosting a special recognition ceremony honoring the dedicated men and women who serve our communities. We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and grateful for their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to keeping Skagit County safe!
🚔Congratulations to Sheriff Don McDermott on nearly 45 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Skagit County. Thank you for your longstanding commitment, leadership, and service to our community.

10/30/2026

⏰ FALL BACK & PREPARE! 🚨

Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 1! As you turn your clocks back, why not put that extra hour to good use? A little preparation today can make a big difference when an emergency happens.

✅ Check your disaster kit – Make sure your emergency supplies are stocked, and that food, water, and medications are up to date.

🔥 Test your smoke alarms – Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed.

🏠 Practice your escape plan – Make sure everyone in your household knows how to get out safely and where to meet.

📱 Sign up for emergency alerts – Stay informed about emergencies and severe weather in your area.

🚗 Prepare your vehicle – Put together an emergency kit with essentials like water, a flashlight, a first aid kit, blankets, and jumper cables.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Talk with your family – Make sure everyone knows how to contact one another and what to do if you become separated during an emergency.

Taking just one hour to prepare can help protect you and your loved ones when the unexpected happens.

Don't just turn back your clocks, take a step toward being disaster ready!

Stay safe, Skagit County! 💙

10/28/2026

🚔🚒🚑 National First Responders Day | October 28

Today, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office recognizes and thanks the dedicated first responders who serve our communities every day. From law enforcement officers and firefighters to EMTs, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and Skagit Ground Search and Rescue volunteers, first responders serve on the front lines of emergencies, often putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others. Their courage, compassion, and commitment make a difference in the lives of our residents every single day.

A Little History: National First Responders Day is observed annually on October 28. The effort gained congressional support in 2017, with a bipartisan resolution passed in 2019 and presidential recognition in 2022.

To all first responders, thank you for your courage, sacrifices, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. We also honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. 💙

10/22/2026

A huge thank you to our Skagit Ground Search and Rescue K-9 teams and their dedicated volunteer handlers! 🐾 These incredible dogs play a vital role in locating missing persons and helping those in need. the Sheriff's Office appreciates their hard work, dedication, and the countless hours they give to keeping our community safe! ❤️

10/01/2026

🚲 E-Rides: Know Before You Ride

E-bikes, electric scooters, and other e-rides are becoming increasingly popular on Washington roads and trails. Before you ride, make sure you understand the laws, safety requirements, and where these devices can legally be operated.

Take a few minutes to watch this video and learn what you need to know to ride safely and legally in Washington State.

Know the rules. Ride smart. Stay safe.

This is "E-Rides: What You Need to Know to Ride in Washington State" by trafficsafety on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

09/23/2026

🏍️OYSTER RUN 2026: MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ARE VULNERABLE ROAD USERS🛵

Oyster Run 2026 is this weekend! As thousands of motorcyclists' head to Skagit County, let’s all do our part to keep the roads safe.

🏍️Motorcyclists: Get properly licensed, wear a DOT approved helmet, ride sober, follow posted speed limits, and consider additional motorcycle training.

🚗Motorists: Motorcycles are smaller and can be difficult to see. Give them extra space, check twice before changing lanes or pulling out from an intersection, stay focused, and share the road.

According to NHTSA, in 2023, motorcyclists were 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a crash per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

In Washington, 54% of Washington residents who died in a motorcycle crash in 2024 were not legally licensed. Training also matters, of the 101 Washington residents killed in motorcycle crashes in 2024, 72 had no training on record.

Let’s make Oyster Run 2026 a safe one. Slow down. Stay alert. Share the road. Get home safely.

For motorcycle safety and training resources:

👉 https://www.ridesaferideon.com/

👉 https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/motorcycle-endorsements

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

09/21/2026

🎓 Congratulations, Deputy Steen! 🎓

Please join the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office in congratulating Corrections Deputy Gunnar Steen on successfully graduating from the Corrections Academy on September 17, 2026!

We are proud of Deputy Steen’s accomplishment and look forward to the knowledge and skills he will bring to our Corrections Bureau and the citizens of Skagit County.

Congratulations, Gunnar, and welcome to the next chapter of your career! 👏🚔

Pictured with Chief Annette Lindquist, Lieutenant Deanna Randall-Secrest.

09/21/2026

🚨 HIKER DECEASED AFTER FALL ON SAUK MOUNTAIN 🚨

On September 19, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Skagit 911 received multiple emergency calls from hikers reporting that they had witnessed a person fall from a switchback trail on Sauk Mountain in the Concrete area of Skagit County.

The hiker was identified as 66-year-old Gary Idleburg of Olympia. Witnesses estimated that Mr. Idleburg fell approximately 800 to 1,000 feet after going over the edge of the trail.

Hikers in the area located Mr. Idleburg and directed responding fire personnel to his location. Emergency personnel immediately began lifesaving efforts; however, Mr. Idleburg was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Due to the remote location and difficult terrain, Washington State Parks personnel and helicopter resources assisted Skagit County Search and Rescue with the recovery operation. The Search and Rescue mission and recovery were completed at approximately 8:00 p.m. on September 19, 2026.

Skagit Ground Search and Rescue

09/19/2026

🚨Press Release- Lost Hiker Update🚨

The Skagit County sheriffs office is providing an update regarding the search for 78 year-old Missing hiker Peter Kalapaca, who was reported missing on Sauk Mountain on September 17, 2026.

Search and rescue operations continued on September 18, 2026, with ground Teams, air resources, air scent K9 units, mountain rescue personnel, and partner agencies working throughout the day and into the evening.

During the evening hours, a helicopter flight crew located Mr. Kalapaca in steep terrain that was inaccessible to ground SAR teams. Sadly, he was not moving and was deceased when found.

Search and rescue teams were subsequently removed from the mountain as efforts shifted towards recovery. Due to the difficult location, a technical recovery operation using a helicopter from North Cascades National Parks was initiated to safely access and recover Mr. Kalapaca.

At this time, all recovery efforts are complete, and the Sauk Mountain Trail has been reopened.

The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank each of the search and rescue teams, air resources, mountain rescue personnel, and partner agencies who assisted in this operation.

We also extend our deepest condolences to the Kalapaca family and loved ones. While nothing can lessen the loss of a loved one, we are grateful for the extraordinary effort made by everyone involved, which allows some measure of closure for the family.  

Send a message to learn more

09/19/2026

Support our veterans and stop by the Shine & Show at VW Home and Garden located at 18923 Peter Johnson Rd to meet our SCSO Motor Officers and check in Cori our VSO (veterans service officer). Cool cars, coffee, food and live music!! 🇺🇸