In Memoriam: Sergeant Kenneth Salas
Spokane County, WA — The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and local community are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of Sergeant Kenneth Salas, who was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, August 9, 2025, while responding to a traffic hazard on Interstate 90 near Four Lakes.
Honoring a Dedicated Career
Sergeant Salas was a 34-year veteran of law enforcement, beginning his career as a corrections officer before joining the SCSO as a patrol deputy. Over the years, he served with distinction in various assignments—including patrol, school resource, traffic unit, and emergency operations teams. He was promoted to detective/corporal in 2004 and became a sergeant in 2009.
Before his law enforcement service, Salas served over two decades in the United States Air Force, ultimately retiring as a Technical Sergeant in the Washington State Air National Guard.
According to Sheriff John Nowels, Salas was preparing to retire on September 30, with only 30 shifts left to serve—a detail that underlines the bitter tragedy of a career that ended just short of retirement.
The Incident
On the morning of the incident, Salas was responding to a traffic hazard—hay bales that had fallen from a truck—on I‑90 eastbound near the Four Lakes exit. He had activated his patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and directional bar to secure the scene. As he worked to clear the roadway, a Harley-Davidson motorcyclist failed to see the warning signals, collided with Salas and his patrol vehicle, resulting in his death. The motorcyclist was also seriously injured and hospitalized.
The Washington State Patrol is leading the investigation into the crash.
A Community in Mourning
In recognition of his sacrifice, Mayor Lisa Brown ordered flags at all city facilities be lowered to half-staff through Monday as a mark of respect and sorrow for Salas’s passing.
Condolences have poured in from across the region—from Washington State Patrol, Chelan Police Department, Spokane Valley Fire Department, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and many others. Law enforcement agencies have united in grief and solidarity.
Remembering Sergeant Kenneth Salas
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Full Name: Kenneth Salas
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Age: 59
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Service: 34 years with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office; over 20 years in U.S. Air Force & Washington State Air National Guard
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Rank: Sergeant (Promoted in 2009)
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Family: Survived by his wife and extended family—who have asked for privacy during this time.
A Legacy of Service
Sergeant Salas’s life was one of steadfast dedication—to community, country, and family. His final act was an embodiment of that dedication, protecting travelers on a highway that would not claim his name. Though he is gone, his spirit lives on in every life he helped, every colleague he inspired, and every child or student he protected as a school resource officer.
In Spokane County, he stands among the honored few whose names are etched in the Roll Call of Honor, remembrances that vow never to forget those who gave their lives in service.
Rest in peace, Sergeant Salas. You answered the call—one last time—with courage and love for your community.
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