Patrol & Investigations

Patrol Bureau
The WWSO Operations Division Patrol Bureau consists of 16 Deputies and four Sergeants divided into four patrol squads. These squads provide public safety service 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Patrol Deputies are responsible for covering approximately 1,000 miles of county roads throughout the approximate 1,300 square miles of Walla Walla County. These Deputies respond to criminal, civil, and traffic calls for service, investigate crimes and traffic collisions, enforce laws, serve civil papers, and provide quality public service to our community.

Detective Bureau
The investigative branch of the WWSO is the Detective Bureau within Operations Division. It is supervised by a Detective Sergeant. The Major Crimes Squad (MCS) consists of two Detectives and is responsible for investigating major crimes within Walla Walla County. A future goal of the Sheriff’s Office is to also have a Special Enforcement Squad (SES) within the Detective Bureau which would proactively investigate gang and drug related criminal activity.  The majority of criminal investigations are handled by Patrol Deputies. 

Also assigned to the Detective Bureau are the School Resource Officer assigned to Walla Walla High School and the Crime Analyst Technician responsible for criminal analysis, crime statistics, crime trends, crime scene processing, and evidence control.

K-9 Unit
While we are authorized for two, the WWSO currently deploys one patrol K-9 team. The K-9 team is a valuable law enforcement tool. Re-establishing our K-9 program would not have been possible without the efforts of the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Foundation and generous donations from citizens. Our patrol K-9 was purchased with private donated funds via the Sheriff’s Foundation. We are very appreciative! Anyone interested in maintaining our K-9 teams and program is encouraged to contact the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Foundation at www.ww-sf.org. Thank you. 

Marine Unit
The Marine Patrol Unit is responsible for patrolling the waters of Walla Walla County for the purpose of preventing crime, enforcing Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and applicable laws, and providing general water safety education and service. In addition, the Marine Patrol Unit is responsible for performing rescue operations for persons and vessels in distress, assisting other divisions and agencies as needed, maintaining buoys and navigational markers, investigating marine accidents and incidents, and removing objects from the water that present a hazard to vessels. Each summer the School Resource Officer returns to patrol duties and allows a patrol deputy to assume the duties of Marine Patrol Deputy. Partners for the Marine Patrol Deputy are extra-duty assignments for other WWSO personnel.  

SWAT Team
The Walla Walla Regional SWAT team is a joint effort of the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and the Walla Walla Police Department.  Members of both agencies serve on the team as an ancillary duty to their primary law enforcement duties. The team employs two rescue vehicles, an Oshkosh Mine Resistent Ambush Protected-All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV)
and BAE Caiman Tactical Rescue Vehicle.  

D.A.R.E.
This year millions of school children around the world will benefit from D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). Developed by the Los Angeles Police Department, this highly acclaimed program gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. D.A.R.E. is a Deputy-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children in  the 5th and 6th grades how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. The program also fosters positive relationships between the youth of our community and law enforcement. Currently, the WWSO has one Deputy who teaches D.A.R.E. in local schools as an ancillary duty to his patrol duties. 

Our D.A.R.E. program is funded entirely by private donations and grant money. Our primary annual fundraiser is our Halloween “Spooky Spaghetti Dinner," in partnership with Walla Walla Area Crime Watch, Walla Walla Sheriff's Foundation, and Search and Rescue volunteers.

Registered Sex Offender Coordinator
WWSO employs a RSO Coordinator to monitor all registered sex offenders with Walla Walla County. For more information on sex offender registry, visit our Sex Offender Information page.

Reserve Deputies
Reserve Deputies are commissioned part-time volunteer peace officers. The Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy Program has been an invaluable part of the Sheriff’s Office for many years. These volunteers are dedicated, trained citizens who support and assist Sheriff’s Deputies and our community in many ways. While we are not currently accepting applications for Reserve Deputies, if you would like to be notified when another class is selected, you are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at sheriff@co.walla-walla.wa.us.