Hamilton County Kansas Sheriff's Office

09/12/2026

Boil Water Advisory Issued for a Portion of the City of Syracuse, Hamilton County

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the City of Syracuse public water supply system located in Hamilton County.

This advisory affects City of Syracuse public water supply customers located north of Avenue B.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on September 11, 2026 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-384-7818, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:

When a public water supply system experiences a disruption in service there are precautions that consumers may need to take during and after the incident.

05/05/2026

The Sheriff’s Office is glad to see so many kids spending time outdoors instead of on their devices.

We do want to remind everyone riding bicycles and electric scooters/bicycles to follow the rules of the road. This includes obeying traffic signs, riding in the proper direction, and staying alert to vehicles and pedestrians. Safety should always come first.

We encourage parents to talk with their kids about safe riding practices so everyone can continue to enjoy our streets responsibly.

04/30/2026

Notice to U50 and K27 traffic: a brief delay is anticipated on May 4th, 2026, at approximately 11:30 am Mountain Time, due to the 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, with around 150 motorcycles expected to pass through the stop lights en route to Wichita, Kansas.

04/29/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Scholarship Recipient, Antonio Rivas! We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

04/24/2026

On April 23, 2026, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suspect attempting to fill fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies in southwest Kansas. The suspect, identified as Daniel Ronald Westlund, 49, left the Syracuse pharmacy before deputies arrived.

A BOLO was issued, and the suspect was later located and arrested by the Kearny County Sheriff’s Office in Lakin, Kansas. Authorities recovered suspected codeine cough syrup, prescription medications, and methamphetamine from the vehicle.

The investigation revealed the suspect had targeted multiple pharmacies in the area using fraudulent electronic prescriptions. Additional charges are pending in multiple jurisdictions, including Hamilton County.

Anyone with information or has been encountered by this individual please contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

At this time the charges are merely accusations, and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

04/22/2026

On April 18, 2026, at approximately 1:14 a.m., deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire outside the Windbreak Club in Syracuse, KS. Investigation revealed a vehicle collision followed by multiple shots fired from a red pickup, and a suspect was later identified as Elueterio Morales-Vega (35) of Johnson, KS. Morales-Vega was located and arrested. Multiple search warrants were executed with the help of the Stanton County Sheriff's Office A firearm and ammunition were located. The investigation remains ongoing.

Morales-Vega was charged with the following:

-Aggravated Assault
-Criminal Discharge of a Firearm
-Failure to stop at an accident

At this time the charges are merely accusations and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

04/22/2026

On November 11, 2025 the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of W. U50 Hwy. and N. Main St. in Coolidge, KS. K9 Speedy alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. The vehicle was searched and there was approximately 300 Fentanyl pills located in the engine compartment. The following occupants were arrested, charged, and convicted:

Richard Johnston:
-Unlawful Possession of controlled Substance w/ Intent to Distribute
– Sentenced to 102 months in the Kansas Department of Correctional Facility

Denyse Otero:
-Unlawful Possession w/ Intent to Distribute
–Sentenced to 24 months of probation

Bridget Rich:
-Unlawful Possession w/ Intent to Distribute
–Sentenced to 18 months of probation