Kittitas County Park to Be Named in Honor of Deputy Ryan Thompson

The park next to Naneum Pond just east of Ellensburg will be officially renamed Monday in honor of Kittitas County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Thompson who was killed in the line of duty in March 2019.

Chief Deputy Ben Kokjer says the idea was worked out by County Commissioners, Kiwanis and Rotary.

"Make that park a place where people can take their kids to go fishing and maybe think about Ryan a little bit. It was something that he really enjoyed doing. He was really into fly fishing and I know he took his own kids to there and they caught some of their first fish with their dad. It's a neat community response."

Kokjer also noted that once we are through the pandemic, they hope to coordinate an event at the park and pond.

"We're going to get a Fish with a Deputy day going so we can meet with members of the community that have never fished before. Let those kids have a good experience with law enforcement and then hopefully a new experience to them fishing. That was something Ryan really loved to do with people, introduce them to new things."

The dedication will take place Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.