Island County Sheriff's Office

09/06/2026

UPDATED!

The 2026 Island County Emergency Preparedness Fair is coming up on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Fire Department.

This event is a great opportunity for our community to learn more about emergency preparedness, meet local response agencies and organizations, and discover resources that can help individuals and families be better prepared for emergencies.

09/03/2026

When people think about correctional facilities, they often focus on the people inside. But the buildings themselves create daily challenges that most residents never see.

This photo shows staff manually cleaning grease traps that are too small and outdated for the Jail's kitchen. It's one example of the ongoing maintenance required to keep an aging facility operating.

Across the Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, staff work around outdated systems and limited space while continuing to provide safe custody, treatment, education and other legally required services. As Island County plans for the future of its correctional facilities, replacing aging infrastructure is one of the many needs being considered.

Learn more at https://islandcountywa.gov/crcproject.

08/20/2026

Island County’s Jail and Juvenile Detention Center are an important part of our local public safety system—and the work happening inside them has changed significantly over the years.

In a recent letter to the editor, Chief Jail Administrator Jose Briones and Court Administrator Megan Frazier share some of the challenges their employees face and why the future of these facilities matters to the entire community.

Employees deserve better supportive facilities

As the administrators responsible for Island County’s Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, we have the privilege of working alongside professionals who serve our community under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.

Our employees respond to mental health crises, su***de attempts, addiction, trauma and violence. They also help adults and youth access medical care, treatment, education and life-skills programs that improve outcomes and strengthen public safety.

That work has changed significantly over the past several decades. Today’s correctional facilities are expected to provide far more than secure custody. Yet our employees continue carrying out those responsibilities in facilities that were built for a different era.

Limited programming space makes it harder to provide treatment and education. Aging infrastructure requires increasing time and resources simply to keep the facilities operating. And neither facility was designed with the spaces needed to support the people who work there every day.

Our employees remain committed to serving this community, but they deserve facilities that support today’s correctional responsibilities, not buildings that make those responsibilities more difficult.

As Island County considers the future of its correctional facilities, we hope the conversation includes both the people in our care and the professionals dedicated to helping them build safer, healthier futures. Supporting one ultimately strengthens the other.

Jose Briones
Island County

08/20/2026

https://vimeo.com/1217797581

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.

08/17/2026

Three fine employees of South Whidbey Fire/EMS found themselves in the back of a patrol car around 0935 hours this morning...

Their fire truck was too big to make it down the road for a medical call, so they had to take a ride on hard plastic seats instead!

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

August 12, 2026

From Sheriff Felici,

I have become aware of a social media post and the associated comments regarding an accident in which one of our deputies unfortunately struck a dog with his patrol vehicle.

Obviously, this is a traumatic situation, particularly for the dog’s owner and for the deputy involved. Nothing in this statement is intended to minimize the emotions of those involved or the loss of a beloved pet.

The deputy had just left the North Precinct office in response to a 911 report of a possible DUI driver who was reportedly “swerving all over the road.” The caller reported that the vehicle was traveling southbound on State Route 20 from the area of Sleeper Road. The deputy was attempting to reach SR 20 to locate the vehicle.

A short distance from the precinct parking lot on Industrial Drive, the dog unexpectedly ran into the roadway in front of the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy was unable to stop in time, and his patrol vehicle struck the dog.

I have personally reviewed the body-camera video of the interactions following the incident. Based on what I observed, I did not see anything that would lead me to believe the deputy “didn’t care” or behaved inappropriately. What I saw were people who had just experienced a traumatic event trying to process what had happened, and a deputy attempting to determine the appropriate protocol for a situation he had never encountered before.

Traumatic events can affect how people perceive and respond to a situation, particularly in the immediate aftermath. I understand that those watching or experiencing the event may have perceived things differently. I also understand the anger, sadness, and frustration that can accompany the loss of a pet.

Like any decent human being, the deputy felt terrible about what happened. He remains deeply upset by the incident today. No one involved wanted this to happen, and there is no doubt that the loss of the dog has been painful for everyone involved.

As is our protocol when one of our deputies is involved in a collision, the deputy requested that an independent agency investigate the incident. In this case, the Washington State Patrol conducted the investigation.

I recognize that no explanation can undo what happened or lessen the pain of losing a beloved pet. I recently lost my own dog unexpectedly, and I can personally relate to how difficult and painful that experience can be.

My intent in providing this information is not to dismiss anyone’s feelings, but simply to provide additional context about the circumstances surrounding the incident and what I observed in reviewing the events afterward.

Rick Felici

08/10/2026

While protecting public safety remains the primary mission of Island County's correctional facilities, treatment, education and life-skills programs help prepare adults and youth for successful reentry after custody. These efforts help strengthen families, support successful reintegration and contribute to a safer community.

Read the full news release: islandcountywa.gov/1157/Press-Releases

Learn more: islandcountywa.gov/1146/Correction-and-Rehabilitation-Center-Pro

08/04/2026

🌬️ Air Quality Alert for Whidbey & Camano Islands:

We are experiencing air quality impacts from wildfire smoke this week. Particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations are ranging between Mild to "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" in Island County. The forecast shows smoke clearing up Friday August 7th through the weekend.

Check AQI by location here: https://www.airnow.gov/? Or use the WA Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1

Simple steps to stay safe:

1. When air quality is “Unhealthy,” everyone should reduce exposure. Limit time outside, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air: https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/air-quality/smoke-fires/protect-yourself-and-others. Find air quality guidance from WA Dept. of Health (WA-DOH) in Spanish here: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/waqa%20infographic_Spanish.pdf?uid=64c14163c7440
2. With summer camps in session, use the WA Dept. of Health Youth Outdoor Activity Guide to plan safe outdoor activities (doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs/334-332.pdf).
3. If you have a home HEPA air filter or HVAC system with a clean MERV-13 filter, running it indoors helps clean the air. No HEPA filter? You can build a simple DIY box fan filter using supplies from local hardware stores. Find instructions from University of Washington at https://pnash.deohs.washington.edu/node/945 (Available in English and Spanish).
4. Wearing a tight-fitting KN95 mask outdoors can help filter fine particulate matter. Many local hardware stores stock KN95 masks.

Daytime Clean Air Spaces
If your home gets too warm or smoky, Sno-Isle Libraries provides clean air and air conditioning at their Camano Island, Clinton, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley, and Oak Harbor branches.

❤️ Look Out for Neighbors
Take a moment to check in on nearby seniors, friends, and families with young infants to ensure they have access to clean air. A quick call or knock on the door goes a long way!

08/03/2026

August 3,2026
For Immediate Release:

OUTDOOR BURNING BAN
IN ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

TYPE II BURN BAN IN EFFECT

AS OF 7:00 a.m. August 5, 2026

NO OUTDOOR BURNING OF NATURAL DEBRIS – EVEN WITH A PERMIT.

Burn Ban - Type II includes a ban on all outdoor burning in unincorporated Island County including a ban on recreational fires that were otherwise exempt from a Type I burn ban and including a ban on the use and discharge of consumer fireworks, unless the use and discharge of such fireworks are authorized by a permit issued by the Fire Marshal. The use of barbeque grills using propane or briquettes, or self-contained camp stoves are exempt from Type II burn bans and these items may still be used.

The danger of outdoor fires is extreme right now. Please use extreme caution with any ignition source.

PROCLAMATION and PUBLIC NOTICE

WHEREAS, by August 3, 2026, atmospheric conditions of reduced fuel moisture levels, low humidity, and warmer weather have increased the risk of fire within the confines of Island County,

WHEREAS, on August 1, 2026, Washington Governor Ferguson declared a Statewide Wildfire Emergency as well as a statewide burn ban,

WHEREAS While local conditions are not as dry as other parts of the state,local firefighting resources as increasingly being dispatched to assist with fires elsewhere in the state reducing our local firefighting resources,

THEREFORE, in concurrence with the Fire Protection Districts of Whidbey and Camano Islands and the Northwest Clean Air Agency, I, Sheriff Rick Felici, serving as the Island County Fire Marshal, do hereby proclaim a BAN on ALL outdoor burning within the entirety of Island County

REPORT VIOLATIONS TO 911

This ban will be reevaluated in 60 days but will remain in effect until further notice.

Sheriff Rick Felici
Island County Fire Marshal