La Pine Sheriff’s Community Action Team Reports 482 Traffic Stops, 234 Fire Safety Checks in 2026

LA PINE, Ore. — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the City of La Pine have released eight months of performance data for their Community Action Team (CAT) partnership, highlighting efforts to prevent wildfires, improve neighborhood safety, support local businesses and manage public safety at community events.

The report covers activities from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31, 2026, under a contract designed to address public safety priorities identified by La Pine city leaders.

According to the report, deputies conducted 482 traffic stops for speed enforcement on Highway 97 and city roads, including 231 stops on the highway and 251 within city limits. They also completed 234 public land and fire safety checks, accounting for an estimated 373 hours of work.

Additional activities included 154 neighborhood patrols totaling approximately 101 hours and 67 business safety advisements totaling about 58 hours. Deputies also dedicated 455 hours to city and community event priorities.

The partnership has expanded beyond traditional patrol duties. Deputies have helped marshal school buses during neighborhood pickup and drop-off times, increased law enforcement visibility around school grounds and established an emergency response plan for La Pine schools to improve police response during a crisis.

The agencies also developed a more streamlined process for human and animal emergency evacuations for residents of South Deschutes County.

La Pine completed the 2026 fire season without a wildfire threatening residents. City officials and the Sheriff’s Office attributed the outcome, in part, to consistent monitoring of public lands and targeted fire prevention checks.

Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert said the contract was developed around concerns specific to the community.

“We built this contract around the specific needs and public safety concerns that La Pine faces,” Rupert said. “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.”

La Pine Mayor Jeannine Earls said the partnership was developed in response to the destructive wildfire seasons experienced across Oregon and the community’s elevated fire risk.

“After seeing how destructive recent fire seasons have been statewide, we knew we needed a more focused approach to prevention,” Earls said. “By working closely with DCSO and prioritizing boots-on-the-ground checks, we put ourselves in a stronger position this year.”

Earls said she believes the prevention efforts played a key role in helping La Pine avoid another major wildfire threat in 2026.

The CAT team consists of Sergeant Kyle Kalmbach and Deputy Jonathan Ebner, both longtime La Pine residents. In addition to patrol and prevention work, they coordinate safety planning for major community 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 assistance and event logistics that the city lacks the staffing or regulatory capacity to manage independently.

Speeding and unsafe driving have become growing concerns as La Pine continues to expand. Earls said targeted traffic enforcement is already making a difference, citing feedback from residents and local businesses.

The mayor also pointed to progress in managing transient camps on nearby public lands, describing the issue as one of the community’s most complex challenges.

“This is one of the most complex issues we face as a community,” Earls said. “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.”

She said increased deputy engagement has strengthened relationships and communication while contributing to cleaner, safer areas and greater accountability.

La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager said the partnership has required cooperation and flexibility to address complex public safety and public health concerns throughout southern 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,” Wullschlager said. “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.”

Rupert and Earls said the Community Action Team is intended to serve the broader La Pine area, with its work continuing to evolve in response to community needs.

The agencies said the performance data provides a clearer picture of how deputies are spending their time and how the partnership is addressing the city’s public safety priorities.