Yreka Police Department

Last week, the Yreka Police Department had the honor of recognizing and celebrating Officer Blake Foster as the recipient of the Siskiyou Community Food Bank's 2025 Officer of the Year Award.

This award recognizes exceptional dedication, professionalism, and service to the community. Through his unwavering commitment to duty, outstanding work ethic, and exemplary leadership, Officer Foster consistently demonstrates the highest standards of law enforcement. His positive impact on both our department and the community reflects great credit upon himself and the profession.

Please join us in congratulating Officer Foster on this well-deserved honor and thanking him for his continued service to our community👏👏👏

🚔🐾 HOT CARS CAN BE DEADLY FOR PETS🐾🚔

With warmer temperatures arriving across California, we want to remind the community that leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle can quickly become dangerous—even for a short period of time.

On a hot day, temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly, creating life-threatening conditions for animals. Heat-related emergencies can develop within minutes and may result in serious injury or death.

If you plan to run errands, please leave your pets safely at home where they have access to water, shade, and a cool environment.

If you see an animal in distress, contact local law enforcement or animal control.

Together, we can help keep our pets safe this summer. Thank you for doing your part to protect the animals in our community.

With the recent retirement of Chief Gilman, our Department would like to take a moment to recognize and announce several promotions within our ranks.

As we honor Chief Gilman’s years of leadership and service to the community, we also look ahead to the future with confidence in the dedicated men stepping into these new roles. Their hard work, professionalism, and commitment to public service continue to strengthen our Department every day.

Please join us in congratulating the following members on their promotions and wishing them continued success in their new positions. 👏🚔

Detective - Jeremiah Capurro
Sergeant - Ian Elsasser
Sergeant - James Elliott
Lieutenant - Joshua Tygart
Interim Chief of Police - Pat Dircksen

The Yreka Police Department would also like to celebrate some recent additions to our team. Please welcome:

-Reserve Officer Michael Barham, who comes to YPD after retiring from a successful career with the California Highway Patrol.

-Officer Cory Ryder, who comes to YPD with multiple years of law enforcement experience from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.

These officers have answered the call to serve with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to our community. We are proud to have them join our ranks and look forward to the positive impact they will make.

Congratulations and welcome to the team 👏

Last week, we had the honor of celebrating the retirement of Chief Gilman after an incredible 35 years of dedicated service in law enforcement.

Throughout his leadership as Chief, he helped shape and strengthen the department in countless ways — implementing the Reserve Officer Program, introducing a K-9 unit to support officers in the field, creating the Community Service Officer, School Resource Officer, and Homeless Liaison Officer positions, and increasing the number of officers serving our community.

Chief Gilman shared his appreciation for the continued support from the City Council and City Management throughout the years, noting how much it meant to work alongside them. Above all, he said he will miss the camaraderie within the department the most.

As he begins this next chapter, Chief Gilman looks forward to spending more time with his family and enjoying the outdoors.

Thank you, Chief Gilman, for your decades of leadership, service, and commitment to the community. Wishing you a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.

🚲Ride Smart.
🚴Ride Safe.
🚨E-Bike safety & laws in California🚨

💻Apply today!
☎️Hiring: Police Dispatcher
🚔Make a difference!

🚨ATTEMPTED MURDER SUSPECT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY🚨

In the early hours of 04/29/2026, Officers responded to a shooting of an adult male victim on the north end of Yreka. The male was transported from the scene by medical staff. By mid morning, Yreka Police Officers were able to identify the juvenile suspect. A Yreka Police Department Detective wrote and obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect.

On 04/30/2026, with the help of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Yreka Police Officers were able to take the juvenile suspect into custody, as well as retrieve the firearm used in the crime. The victim is in stable condition and the juvenile suspect has been taken into custody for the following charges:

🔹664/187(a) PC - Attempted Murder.
🔹245(a)(2) PC - Assault with a Deadly Weapon (firearm).

The Yreka Police Department has zero tolerance for violent criminals in our community. We will do our best to take these types of criminals off the streets.

Thank you again to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office whose help was instrumental in taking the suspect into custody.

🚨 E-BIKE SAFETY & LAWS IN CALIFORNIA 🚨

As e-bikes continue to grow in popularity across our communities, it’s important to know the rules of the road to keep everyone safe.

⚖️ Know Your E-Bike Classes

Under California Vehicle Code, e-bikes are divided into three categories:

-Class 1: Pedal-assist only (no throttle), max speed 20 mph.
-Class 2: Throttle-assisted, max speed 20 mph.
-Class 3: Pedal-assist only, max speed 28 mph.

🪖 Helmet Requirements

-Riders under 18 must wear a helmet (all classes).
-Class 3 riders must wear a helmet regardless of age.

🚴‍♂️ Where You Can Ride

-Class 1 & 2: Allowed on bike paths and trails (unless posted otherwise).
-Class 3: Not allowed on most bike paths/trails, only on roadways or bike lanes.

-Bicyclists must use the bike lane when marked. Bicyclists shall not leave the bike lane until reasonably safe and only after giving appropriate hand signal. Bicycles shall be operated in the same direction as vehicles are required to be driven on that roadway.

🔞 Age Restrictions

-Must be 16 or older to operate a Class 3 e-bike

🚦 Ride Smart & Stay Legal

-Follow all traffic laws just like a car or traditional bicycle.
-No riding under the influence.
-Yield to pedestrians.
-Use lights at night.

📜 Other important Laws

-Motor powered: All e-bikes must have motors less than/equal to 750 watts.
-Throttle use: Only class 2 e-bikes may use throttles, up to 20mph.
-Licensing, registration and insurance: Not required for e-bikes that meet California’s legal definition. Exceeding speed or power limits may classify the bike as a motor vehicle, requiring DMV compliance.

👮‍♂️ Enforcement Reminder

Unsafe or illegal use of e-bikes can result in citations, fines and/or having bicycles towed. Our goal is education first—but the Yreka Police Department will enforce the law to keep everyone safe.

👉 Parents: Please talk to your kids about safe riding habits.

👉 Riders: Know your bike class and where you’re allowed to ride.