Rich Byrd for Pacific County Sheriff

09/04/2026

Today, we pause to remember a true hero from right here in our coastal community…

Patrolman Eugene A. “Gene” Bolstad

Washington State Patrol

End of Watch: September 3, 1957

Age: 29

On a September afternoon in 1957, Patrolman Gene Bolstad was on duty in Long Beach when word reached him that two young swimmers were caught in the surf, being pulled out to sea.

He didn't hesitate. Alongside a willing citizen named Dick Bauman, Patrolman Bolstad ran straight into the ocean's surf to bring those young men home. While one swimmer was thankfully brought safely back to shore, the strength of the undertow claimed both Patrolman Bolstad and 18-year-old Alvin Weise.

Courage isn't just about facing danger—it’s about stepping into it for someone else without a second thought. Patrolman Bolstad gave everything he had in an effort to save a life, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness that still speaks deeply to us nearly seven decades later.

As we reflect today on the cost of service and the heart it takes to wear the badge, please join us in honoring Patrolman Gene Bolstad. Bolstad Beach Approach is more than just a sign, it's a memory. We keep his memory, his family, and all who step forward to protect our communities in our thoughts.

We remember.

09/01/2026

Join us in prayers for the friends and family of this fallen fish and wildlife officer. He gave his life in the service of others. This isn’t just a job, it is a calling. This Officer gave the ultimate sacrifice attempting to save the lives of others. Let’s pause and honor him today.

Thank you

FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICER DIES HELPING FIRE VICTIMS: From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mourning federal wildlife officer David Taylor, 38 of Scio, Oregon, who is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by the Railroad South Fire.

"Officer Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety. His last contact with dispatch came while he was helping a family evacuate their home. Evidence recovered from a structure where he was working to help a resident escape indicates that he died during the evacuation effort. Formal identification remains pending with the medical examiner.

"Everything we know about David's actions reflects extraordinary courage, selflessness and devotion to duty.

"Our hearts are with his family, friends, fellow officers and all who served alongside him. We will never forget his service."

08/31/2026

In a recent newspaper profile, Sheriff Garcia claimed that his administration took on five unsolved homicides when he assumed office in 2023 and brought all five to convictions. Wanting to verify those figures, we reviewed available public records and open-source reporting—including articles in the Chinook Observer.

The official record paints a much different picture. Official files confirm that of the cold-case homicides inherited by this administration, only one—the 2015 Jeffrey Beach case—was resolved with a conviction. The records also account for a separate search operation that sadly located the remains of a missing Ilwaco man.

Finding a missing community member and solving a cold-case homicide are both important law enforcement duties, but they are not the same thing. Despite these documented facts, Garcia recently repeated the "five solved homicides" claim at a local candidate forum, only to change his explanation when pressed.

Our local deputies do hard, essential work every single day, and their real accomplishments deserve to be reported accurately. Pacific County families deserve leadership that provides clear, consistent facts rather than shifting numbers. Team Byrd stands for transparency, accurate reporting, and leadership you can count on to tell it to you straight.

08/31/2026

Tragedies like the discovery of Mr. Eanes deeply impact our entire community, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

Welfare checks are among the most frequent calls our frontline deputies handle, but they also carry strict legal and constitutional boundaries. Under Washington law and established Fourth Amendment protections, officers cannot breach a private home without meeting specific legal thresholds under the Emergency Aid Doctrine.

Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) standards emphasize that handling complex, non-responsive welfare checks requires active supervisory oversight. When red flags accumulate across multiple shifts—such as shut-off utilities, untouched door tags, parked vehicles, and repeated community reports—WASPC model policies dictate that leadership must step in to connect those patterns.

Experienced leadership ensures that when these circumstantial indicators build up, supervisors work directly with legal counsel to establish the required legal threshold, authorize clear entry protocols, and give frontline deputies the backing they need to act decisively. Our focus moving forward is ensuring these supervisory standards are fully active on every shift so no resident falls through the cracks.

For seven months, warning signs outside a residence on Armstrong Street near Old Willapa accumulated in plain view of responding deputies. The home’s water was disconnected, the power was shut […]

08/29/2026

Don’t walk, run down to the bank of Pacific in Longbeach and donate to our local food banks. Such a great cause. I was very happy and proud to donate today. These volunteers are amazing. They donate so much time to this wonderful Cause. We need to keep the people of Pacific County fed. Thank you all for your support 

08/29/2026

Had a great time at the fund raiser to support the Chinook Port alliance, raising money for the Port of Chinook. It was great to reconnect with some old friends and meet some new ones. This is a very important cause that I wholeheartedly support. Thank you, Marcie Oldham for inviting us. I wish we would’ve had the time to go fishing with you maybe next year thanks again

River Salmon Derby

08/22/2026

Come meet the team and enjoy the Pacific County Fair!

08/14/2026

Need help with school supplies? Come on down to New Life Church in Raymond now until 7pm or they run out! Backpacks with school supplies, bouncy houses, food, haircuts and more! Free!