Ellis County Communications

04/16/2026

09/30/2025

PLEASE READ!!! Here is an updated map. As of now they are on schedule for 3pm.

09/30/2025

Es**rt route information.

Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann Kansas Highway PatrolOn behalf of the H

09/21/2025

Congratulations to Rachel — a shining example of how our team positively impacts the lives of those we serve.

911 Ellis County Dispatcher Rachel Barnes

09/17/2025

🚨 New CARE Alert Program for At-Risk Residents 🚨

Ellis County Communications, in partnership with local law enforcement, is launching CARE (Creating Awareness, Responding Effectively) — a voluntary program to help first responders better assist residents with special needs during emergencies.

If you or a loved one has developmental, intellectual, or physical disabilities, autism, mental health challenges, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other medical/communication needs, you can register online to share important information with emergency services.

🖱️ Find more information here: https://www.ellisco.net/757/CARE

Safety matters—let first responders know how to help!

07/05/2025

Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are moving slowly east through west central Kansas and extreme southwest Kansas.

07/04/2025

HEADS UP!

With the potential of storms in the area this evening, the fireworks show may be pushed up from its original time at 10 p.m.

Keep an eye out on this account for offical updates!

06/03/2025

*Media Release 06/03/2025*
Office of the Chief of Police

On June 2nd, 2025, a Blue Alert was issued in the State of Missouri following the shooting of a Lee’s Summit Police Officer on June 1st, 2025. The officer was shot by an armed suspect after responding to a domestic disturbance. That Blue Alert was later extended to include the State of Kansas.

In the early morning hours of June 3, 2025, at approximately 0204, the Ellis Police Department received a tip via CrimeStoppers that the suspect, identified as Thomas Tolbert, was staying at the Day’s Inn Hotel, located at 205 Washington Street in Ellis, Kansas.

The Ellis Police Officer on duty requested that the CrimeStoppers tip line get in contact with Ellis County Communications, in order to gather the most accurate information and broadcast it out to area law enforcement units. All available units were requested to respond to the City of Ellis so that a plan could be devised to verify the integrity of the tip that was received.

At approximately 0242, Ellis County Communications received additional information from witnesses who reported giving Tolbert a ride from the Kansas City, Missouri area. They stated they were enroute to Colorado and had been asked by a third party to transport Tolbert, unaware of his connection to the Blue Alert. According to the witnesses, Tolbert provided a false name and began acting suspiciously during the trip. Upon stopping to rest for the night, one of the witnesses saw the Blue Alert on social media featuring Tolbert’s image and immediately contacted law enforcement.

At 0245, the Ellis Police Department requested activation of the Hays Police Department’s Special Situation Response Team (SSRT). Members of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation also responded to the scene. At 0439, SSRT began evacuating adjacent hotel rooms. Contact with Tolbert was made at approximately 0445 in room 309. After a brief struggle and taser deployment, Tolbert was taken into custody without injury to any Community Members or law enforcement personnel. Tolbert was transported to the Ellis County Jail, where he is currently being held on an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

I’d like to applaud the exemplary teamwork that went into resolving this incident. The professionalism of Ellis County Communications, the Hays Police Department, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation led to the best possible outcome in this incident. We thank them for their assistance. We also extend our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the Lee’s Summit Officer that was injured in the line of duty.


Avery A. Smith
Chief of Police
Ellis Police Department

06/02/2025

Update: This is for today and not Friday.

The area has been upgraded to an enhanced risk (3 of 5) of severe storms with a higher threat of damaging winds.

05/19/2025

While not expected to be an intense as yesterday's severe weather, there is still come severe weather potential to pay attention to today. It looks like to come in two modes: dry line activity to the east and high based storms to the west. Both areas have hail and wind potential.

05/18/2025

Today will feature a potential significant risk for severe weather across portions of southwest Kansas and into central Kansas. Large to very large hail, tornadoes, and damaging winds will all be possible. Be sure to stay weather aware this afternoon and evening!