Deputy Jacob Lewis Named First Responder of the Year by North Central Washington Fair

2024 NCW Fair Dates: August 22 – 26

information released, photo above: Deputy Lewis with his former partner K9 Kait

Deputy Jacob Lewis of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center was recently named the 2024 First Responder of the Year by the North Central Washington Fair.

The annual award, now in its fourth year, not only recognizes the key role K9 handler Lewis played in establishing the drug interdiction program at the jail but it also puts the spotlight on a profession that often goes unrecognized in the area of first responders.

“Getting a K9 program up and running was pretty special, but getting Deputy Lewis was the icing on the cake,” said Chris Sharp, director of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.

Lewis, joined by his family, will be honored on Aug. 23 at the fair on the Clint Black concert stage. Chelan County thanks Deputy Lewis for once again making us proud.

Lewis has worked at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center since 2018 and is the jail’s first narcotics K9 handler. Along with his partner K9 Kait, who passed away in August 2023, and his current partner K9 Gambit, he has developed a model program for jails across the state and country.

Not only are Lewis and K9 Gambit truly invaluable to our jail but they are also active members of our community. They regularly visit schools, daycares and summer camps to educate kids in the region about the dangers of drugs as well as what a corrections officer does.