Deputy with “sharp wit” retires from Island County

Chris Ellis Chris Ellis, Island County Sheriff’s Office chief criminal deputy, has been looking forward to retirement.

He plans to do whatever he wants, including riding his Harley and traveling with his wife, Patty.

Ellis started with the sheriff’s office in 1987, and has held almost every rank except sheriff.

Originally, he was only supposed to come to the Camano precinct for two weeks. However, that two weeks became almost 17 years.

Ellis has most enjoyed his time as the precinct commander on Camano Island. They have the “Camano way,” a term coined by one deputy, he said.

Ellis started his law enforcement career as a Langley police officer. He attended the Seattle Police Academy, and spent six years in Langley as a patrol officer. He worked for the Coupeville Marshal’s Office for several months before joining the sheriff’s office.

Ellis said he was interested in law enforcement at a young age. After volunteering as a firefighter and seeing the police on patrol, Ellis decided that was what he wanted to do.

“It wasn’t easy getting in, that’s for sure,” he said.

It’s a job that provided variety. Ellis said his favorite moments are those in his career where he made a difference and saved someone’s life.

“There are times when that one act of kindness … evens out the negatives of the job,” he said.

Ellis remembers a time as a young deputy when he was dispatched to the home of a choking baby. He said he had to almost tackle the mother so that he could help the infant. The 18-monthold child had a marble in its throat, which Ellis was able to remove.

A few years ago, Ellis saved a woman who was attempting to jump off of the Deception Pass Bridge. He and another deputy happened to be on the bridge and both noticed that the woman was on the wrong side of the railing, said Sgt. Brian Legasse, who has worked with Ellis for 21 years. They tried to talk her out of jumping, and when she did anyway, both grabbed a hold of her, saving her life.

Another time, there was a bad vehicular accident on Camano Island, Legasse said. One woman’s vehicle had been hit by another driver. When Ellis arrived, the woman, who was in shock, grasped his hand and held on. Ellis directed the response to the accident scene with her hand in his.

In a professional setting, Ellis takes care of those who can’t care for themselves, Legasse said. He’s levelheaded, and both firm and fair.

As a detective, Ellis said he was proud each time he was able to forward a completed case to the Island County Prosecutor. It gave him a sense of accomplishment.

Of course, law enforcement sees odd occurrences. While on Whidbey Island, Ellis once had a man come in to report the theft of one pound of marijuana. Even though possession was illegal, the man felt a theft was a theft, he said.

“I told him if we recovered his weed we would call him,” Ellis said, with a smile.

Ellis also recalled a loud party complaint where he found a man outside smoking a joint. The man said, “cops are here,” and kept looking from his joint, to Ellis.

“He didn’t believe what he was seeing,” Ellis said.

Ellis has been a dedicated police officer, said Mark Brown, Island County Sheriff. He has both a “sharp wit and good sense of humor,” and maintains perspective even in negative situations.

“He’s a funny guy,” Legasse said. “He’s a pretty sociable person if you are fortunate enough to be one of his friends.”

Ellis and Legasse had a radio show for an Oak Harbor station in 1997. They played music and said things they thought were funny, Legasse said.

Ellis said he started the radio show every Monday after the station manager approached him. Later, Legasse joined in.

“We had a good time with it,” he said.

They did prank calls to local businesses on the air. One time, they called a local department store and asked for toys that didn’t exist, Ellis said. The clerk was getting upset with them before they told him he was on the radio.

The two switched between who was the serious one, Legasse said.

Ellis is someone who has helped younger deputies become better at their jobs, Brown said. He’s been a competent administrator and leader, and taken on roles others didn’t want.

Ellis is so well-known and active in the community that some Camano Island residents likely thought Ellis was the sheriff, Brown said.

“I certainly am going to miss him,” he said.

Ellis said he has seen the island change dramatically. The population doubled, and the calls to the sheriff’s office tripled.

“It’s still a good place to live,” he said. “Every community in the United States has their problems.”

It’s amazing how quickly 30 years went by, Ellis said.

“I’m going to miss the camaraderie of the guys that worked for me and with me,” he said.

Ellis said he was never the kind of officer who felt he was the letter of the law.

“Not everybody needs a ticket, not everybody needs to go to jail,” he said.

An officer is more of a problem-solver.

“I would like people to remember that I was always fair,” he said.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.