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News Release

DCSO-La Pine Community Action Team Advances Community-Driven Priorities Through Strong Local Partnership - 10/15/26

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 

Deschutes County Sheriff's office & City of La Pine

 

La Pine, Ore. -- With the close of the 2026 fire season, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the City of La Pine have released eight months of performance data from the DCSO-La Pine Community Action Team (CAT) contract. The partnership, built around priorities identified by La Pine leaders, focuses on wildfire prevention, neighborhood safety, business support, management of transient camps, and public safety at major community events.

 

From the outset, the City and Sheriff’s Office agreed that accountability would be central to the model. Deputies assigned to the contract have tracked their activities since January, giving both agencies clear insight into how services are delivered and the benefits provided to the community.

 

January 1 through August 31, 2026, results include:

  • 482 speed-enforcement traffic stops on Highway 97 and city roads within La Pine (231 highway stops and 251 city stops)
  • 234 public land and fire safety checks, totaling an estimated 373 hours
  • 154 neighborhood patrols, totaling an estimated 101 hours
  • 67 business safety advisements, totaling an estimated 58 hours
  • 455 total hours dedicated to La Pine’s city and community public event priorities
  • School bus marshaling during neighborhood pickup and drop-off
  • Increased law enforcement visibility in and around school grounds, along with the establishment of an emergency response plan for La Pine schools to ensure a quicker and more effective police response during a crisis
  • An improved and streamlined process for human and animal emergency evacuations for South Deschutes County residents

La Pine completed the 2026 fire season without a wildfire threatening residents, an outcome that city leaders and DCSO attribute to consistent public land monitoring and targeted prevention checks. Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert emphasized that the CAT was specifically built around community input.

 

“We built this contract around the specific needs and public safety concerns that La Pine faces. Every number in this report represents the time deputies spent on the community’s biggest priorities, whether that is checking public lands for fire risk, supporting businesses, or being present on streets and in neighborhoods,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert.

 

La Pine Mayor Jeannine Earls said the partnership reflects lessons learned from recent wildfire seasons and La Pine’s elevated risk profile.

 

“After seeing how destructive recent fire seasons have been statewide, we knew we needed a more focused approach to prevention,” explained La Pine Mayor Jeanine Earls. “By working closely with DCSO and prioritizing boots-on-the-ground checks, we put ourselves in a stronger position this year. I believe that approach played a key role in helping our community avoid another major wildfire threat in 2026.”

 

The CAT team is made up of Sergeant Kyle Kalmbach and Deputy Jonathan Ebner—both longtime La Pine residents. They also manage safety planning for major local events, including the Rhubarb Festival, Frontier Days, the High Lakes Car Show, and the La Pine Rodeo. With Highway 97 running directly through town, deputies provide traffic management, pedestrian safety support, and event logistics that the city lacks the staffing or regulatory capacity to handle on its own.

 

As La Pine has grown, so have concerns about speeding and unsafe driving. Mayor Earls said the targeted enforcement effort is already making a difference, as evidenced by feedback from local businesses and citizens. The mayor also highlighted improvements in the management of transient camps on nearby public lands.

 

“This is one of the most complex issues we face as a community. Many of those residing in these camps are transient, but we also have long-term residents who need to be valued, feel safe, and be healthy. The increased engagement from deputies has helped create stronger relationships, better communication, and improved conditions that have led to cleaner, safer spaces and more accountability,” said Mayor Earls.

 

City Manager Geoff Wullschlager added that the partnership has required flexible, collaborative approaches to complex issues affecting south Deschutes County.

 

“We are inspired by our work with the Sheriff’s Office as we collectively address these issues in ways that are as unconventional as the problems themselves. Regardless of jurisdictional ownership, DCSO and the La Pine have pivoted in a collaborative effort to maintain public health and safety standards in south Deschutes County,” noted La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager.

 

Sheriff Rupert and Mayor Earls emphasized that the Community Action Team is designed to benefit the greater La Pine area and to continue evolving based on the community's public safety needs.


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DCSO-La Pine Community Action Team Advances Community-Driven Priorities Through Strong Local Partnership - 10/15/26

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 

Deschutes County Sheriff's office & City of La Pine

 

La Pine, Ore. -- With the close of the 2026 fire season, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the City of La Pine have released eight months of performance data from the DCSO-La Pine Community Action Team (CAT) contract. The partnership, built around priorities identified by La Pine leaders, focuses on wildfire prevention, neighborhood safety, business support, management of transient camps, and public safety at major community events.

 

From the outset, the City and Sheriff’s Office agreed that accountability would be central to the model. Deputies assigned to the contract have tracked their activities since January, giving both agencies clear insight into how services are delivered and the benefits provided to the community.

 

January 1 through August 31, 2026, results include:

  • 482 speed-enforcement traffic stops on Highway 97 and city roads within La Pine (231 highway stops and 251 city stops)
  • 234 public land and fire safety checks, totaling an estimated 373 hours
  • 154 neighborhood patrols, totaling an estimated 101 hours
  • 67 business safety advisements, totaling an estimated 58 hours
  • 455 total hours dedicated to La Pine’s city and community public event priorities
  • School bus marshaling during neighborhood pickup and drop-off
  • Increased law enforcement visibility in and around school grounds, along with the establishment of an emergency response plan for La Pine schools to ensure a quicker and more effective police response during a crisis
  • An improved and streamlined process for human and animal emergency evacuations for South Deschutes County residents

La Pine completed the 2026 fire season without a wildfire threatening residents, an outcome that city leaders and DCSO attribute to consistent public land monitoring and targeted prevention checks. Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert emphasized that the CAT was specifically built around community input.

 

“We built this contract around the specific needs and public safety concerns that La Pine faces. Every number in this report represents the time deputies spent on the community’s biggest priorities, whether that is checking public lands for fire risk, supporting businesses, or being present on streets and in neighborhoods,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert.

 

La Pine Mayor Jeannine Earls said the partnership reflects lessons learned from recent wildfire seasons and La Pine’s elevated risk profile.

 

“After seeing how destructive recent fire seasons have been statewide, we knew we needed a more focused approach to prevention,” explained La Pine Mayor Jeanine Earls. “By working closely with DCSO and prioritizing boots-on-the-ground checks, we put ourselves in a stronger position this year. I believe that approach played a key role in helping our community avoid another major wildfire threat in 2026.”

 

The CAT team is made up of Sergeant Kyle Kalmbach and Deputy Jonathan Ebner—both longtime La Pine residents. They also manage safety planning for major local events, including the Rhubarb Festival, Frontier Days, the High Lakes Car Show, and the La Pine Rodeo. With Highway 97 running directly through town, deputies provide traffic management, pedestrian safety support, and event logistics that the city lacks the staffing or regulatory capacity to handle on its own.

 

As La Pine has grown, so have concerns about speeding and unsafe driving. Mayor Earls said the targeted enforcement effort is already making a difference, as evidenced by feedback from local businesses and citizens. The mayor also highlighted improvements in the management of transient camps on nearby public lands.

 

“This is one of the most complex issues we face as a community. Many of those residing in these camps are transient, but we also have long-term residents who need to be valued, feel safe, and be healthy. The increased engagement from deputies has helped create stronger relationships, better communication, and improved conditions that have led to cleaner, safer spaces and more accountability,” said Mayor Earls.

 

City Manager Geoff Wullschlager added that the partnership has required flexible, collaborative approaches to complex issues affecting south Deschutes County.

 

“We are inspired by our work with the Sheriff’s Office as we collectively address these issues in ways that are as unconventional as the problems themselves. Regardless of jurisdictional ownership, DCSO and the La Pine have pivoted in a collaborative effort to maintain public health and safety standards in south Deschutes County,” noted La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager.

 

Sheriff Rupert and Mayor Earls emphasized that the Community Action Team is designed to benefit the greater La Pine area and to continue evolving based on the community's public safety needs.


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