3-21-2019
ELLENSBURG, Wash. — A Kittitas Deputy who was shot and killed this week is mourned by his community.
42-year-old deputy Ryan Thompson was killed in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect after an attempted traffic stop Tuesday evening.
He began his law enforcement career with the Central Washington University Police Department, where Chief Jason Berthon-Koch tells KOMO Thompson loved being a cop.
“He was a beloved worker, and a great guy,” he says.
Deputy Thompson leaves behind a wife and three children.
22-year-old police officer Benito Chavez was shot in the leg and is recovering after surgery.
The suspect was also shot in the exchange and later died in the hospital.
Bellingham Police sent their condolences on a Facebook post addressed to Kittitas law enforcement.
https://www.facebook.com/bellinghampolice/posts/1163376410452783?__xts__[0]=68.ARCLhJpuC8_fG-L8PRE9yvxQmLsweyNZ5hB4NTgwNu9RU5hhbecMD71jBfSvQG76Pelq0He-tAtWF9_XKymWWCNCsWQxsR8XVwZ4FQ2bctExUQgU-8GGHk_Ecbc06IbUahZq3nfvrVkK0FBMwuPcmO0FUVudoNkcJRiI-ME8hSLK71LAT2WfBYCB23K-QlNo_UUb6xXPRteNbX7y5-1Xv4A21hcu-TPEcLdlSl51Fah2AVg88ttc8bUC2TL9d0lHFkM-rydZ2HRD-GlPztkUSSlUbFJ6YnySzBWzrw_2QPV6j9L7qmljguTqnfYhzR-LbYFtIJmYAQO7H2i4wZjlUkYoCw&__tn__=-R