Update: Deputy Involved Shooting on East Knox
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the names of the two Spokane Valley Deputies involved in the Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) incident on August 16, 2019, in the 10000 block of E. Knox in Spokane Valley.
Deputy Skye Ortiz was hired as a Lateral Deputy by the Sheriff’s Office in July of 2016. He began his law enforcement career in Ferndale, Washington in 2011 and he is currently assigned to the Spokane Valley Precinct Patrol Division.
He is a current member of the SWAT Team, a Field Training Officer (FTO), an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) Instructor and a member of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Team. In 2017, he was awarded a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Life-Saving Award.
Deputy Ortiz served in the United States Army for eight years and obtained the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded a Bronze Star and received a Purple Heart for his actions while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served in the Military Police where he was assigned as a SWAT Team Member, Dignitary Protection, and Investigations.
Deputy Josiah Loos began his law enforcement career in February of this year when he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office. He successfully completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy and was in the second phase of his training with a Field Training Officer.
Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Loos earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Portland State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department.
• The Spokane Police Department is the case managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this investigation will be sent via the SIRR Team.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.