Chelan County Regional Jail K-9 Program

In 2018, the Chelan County Regional Jail Administration experienced a change in leadership. Part of the leadership change resulted in an evaluation of issues including a rampant drug problem within the walls of the jail. As a result from the evaluation, CCRJ began implementing a drug interdiction program that include new technologies and the use of a narcotics detection canine.

In 2020, the jail's drug interdiction program began being implemented with the installation of new security cameras, and a mail and body scanner. In November of 2020, the last part of the program was added with the addition of the K-9 Team. Deputy Jacob Lewis and his partner K-9 Kait were selected as the jail's first K-9 Unit in the jail's history. Along with being a first for CCRJ, Deputy Lewis and K-9 Kait are the second K-9 Team in the State of Washington to be assigned to a county or municipal jail. They have been the instrumental in leading the jail's interdiction program. Since going into service, K-9 Kait has had 72 searches which have lead to 38 confirmed finds. With the jail's drug interdiction program in full swing, there has been a drastic decrease in the amount of illegal narcotics from entering the facility.

However, like most K-9 Programs across the country, K-9 Kait and Deputy Lewis rely mostly on donations and services provided through local businesses, community members, and fundraisers such as this. Please help support an amazing program with the purchase of a shirt. If you would like more information about the jail's K-9 Program or K-9 Kait, please contact Deputy Jacob Lewis at jacob.lewis@co.chelan.wa.us.