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Certificate of Appreciation (14-01) Laurel Yoder
Laurel Yoder has been volunteering for the Portland Police Bureau over the last year, dedicating
more than 200 hours to assist with the GirlStrength and WomenStrength programs.
Laurel has a calm and positive demeanor and always arrives ready and eager to assist. She has
shown long-term commitment to the Bureau, and her competency and efficiency in the office has
enabled the Directors of each program to give her projects that can be completed with little
supervision.
Laurel was responsible for collecting and compiling data for a yearly progress report for the
GirlStrength program; editing the new high school and elementary school curricula; assisting
with the creation of specific visual aids and materials to be used in classes and programs;
researching data and statistics on violence against women; promoting the programs at fairs and
community events; registering and confirming students signed up for classes as well as other
office tasks.
Laurel has completed all this as well as become a volunteer self-defense instructor for
WomenStrength all while working part-time and going to school full-time.
Laurel, for your selfless dedication to GirlStrength and WomenStrength, you are hereby awarded
the Portland Police Bureau’s CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.
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Certificate of Appreciation (14-38) Juanita Kitterman
Juanita Kitterman has spent numerous years volunteering her services to the Portland Police
Historical Society. She has been a civilian member on the Board of Directors, and has dedicated
uncounted hours of her own time to the organization.
Juanita has also worked long hours researching past officer line of duty deaths, locating their
previously unknown grave sites, and conducted genealogical research to locate living family
members. She has also worked to procure properly marked headstones for deceased officers. She
works with other city volunteer organizations in conjunction with the historical society.
Without Juanita’s assistance, some of the actions of officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice
would never be recognized or honored. Juanita has remained committed to researching and
honoring the Portland Police Bureau’s history.
Juanita, for your selfless dedication to the Portland Police Historical Society, you are hereby
awarded the Portland Police Bureau’s CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.
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Certificate of Appreciation (14-12) Matthew Mattison
Since 2011, the Portland Police Bureau has been engaged in a joint effort with the United States
Department of Justice's International Criminal Investigative Training Program, with the mission
of training police officers in Bangladesh.
To help build community and police relations, Police Bureau members initially brought and
distributed thousands of Portland Police Junior Crime Fighter stickers to local children. The
sticker has the background of a Portland Police badge and a McGruff the Crime-Fighter dog
overlaid. However, discussion soon began about providing Bangladesh Police officers with their
own version of a sticker. With the consultation of the Bangladesh Police, a rough idea for a
design was given involving the Bangladesh Police badge, a symbol of national pride--The Royal
Bengal Tiger--and the inscription in Bengali "We Are With Police.”
This information was provided to the internationally respected local artist Matthew Mattison,
who generously donated his time to create the design. The first 500 were printed and departed
with Team 29, in May of 2013. Both the public and police officials in Bangladesh were
extremely pleased and honored with the design of the sticker.
Matthew, for your selfless dedication to the promotion of community policing on an international
level, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police Bureau’s CERTIFICATE OF
APPRECIATION.
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Unit Commendation Medal (14-27) Human Trafficking Unit
The current Human Trafficking Unit consists of three detectives and a sergeant, with the primary
purpose of investigating Measure 11 Prostitution cases involving both adults and juveniles. In
addition to the unit's local and state responsibilities, the three detectives are also Federal Task
Force Officers with the Portland FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
The Human Trafficking Unit has been a cohesive group since July 2011, whose hard work and
dedication has resulted in several landmark state and federal prosecutions. Since 2012, the unit
has cleared roughly 50 cases by arrest and sent those cases for prosecution. On the federal level,
the unit's efforts have dramatically increased the number of cases that were federally indicted,
putting the Portland task force in the top five nationwide for federal trafficking indictments.
Between 2005 and 2010, the average prison term a trafficker was sentenced to was less than 40
months. In 2012, the average sentence doubled to close to 120 months. This increase can be
attributed to the positive working relationships developed with the Multnomah County District
Attorney's Office and the United States Attorney's Office District of Oregon, as well as the unit's
efforts in reaching out to victims to hold these traffickers accountable.
The quality and depth of these recent investigations, as well as the increase in volume of victims
identified and offenders prosecuted can be attributed to a dedicated team approach. This
approach, in most instances, begins with a collaborative effort to care for the victims and respond
to their needs. Using non-profit advocates and a myriad of resources, detectives and prosecutors
build a case that is victim centered and offender focused. The quality of cases and expertise of
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this unit has been nationally recognized. With the growing interest and outcry related to child sex
trafficking, the unit has provided training to outside law enforcement agencies as well as
informational presentations to community groups.
For your professionalism, compassion and dedication to identifying, investigating and
prosecuting human trafficking cases, the members of the Human Trafficking Unit are hereby
awarded the Portland Police UNIT COMMENDATION MEDAL.
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Unit Commendation Medal (14-26)Criminal Intelligence Unit
The members of the Criminal Intelligence Unit or CIU have demonstrated over many years
professionalism and dedication in representing the Portland Police Bureau while conducting their
mission of Dignitary Protection. Since 2010, CIU has conducted more than 70 dignitary
protection details, which has involved the protection of current and former heads of state, foreign
diplomats, senior congressional members, and high-ranking military personnel.
In 2010, CIU recognized the need to seek outside training opportunities and the Unit was
recognized by the local State Department Special Agent in Charge who nominated all members
of CIU to attend the U.S. State Departments weeklong Dignitary Protection course in
Washington D.C., enabling members to bring those newly acquired skills back to the Bureau.
Because of their dedication to the mission, CIU provided more than 411hours of continued
training to not only their CIU members, but to other PPB personal and outside law enforcement
agencies. In 2012, CIU developed and conducted a comprehensive 8-day Dignitary Protection
course, which involved the training of 25 PPB personnel, Oregon DOJ and the Oregon State
Police Governors Protection Detail. In 2012, CIU was recognized for their professionalism in
dignitary protection operations by receiving a letter of commendation from the U.S. Capitol
Police.
For your dedication to dignitary protection and for your willingness to learn and train others, the
members of the Criminal Intelligence Unit are hereby awarded the Portland Police Bureau UNIT
COMMENDATION MEDAL.
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Unit Commendation Medal (14-29) Training Division
Over the last year, the Police Bureau made significant changes to its Use of Force and Taser
policies. Due to these changes, the lead Training instructors and two nonsworn members--the
Training Development Officer and the Training Development Analyst--made important and
significant changes to the curriculum and training scenarios. The training scenarios were
implemented in last year’s in-service and officers were evaluated with guidelines that were
developed as a team and implemented with input from all lead instructors from all the training
disciplines.
The members of the Training Division were fair and consistent in their evaluations of each
officer's actions and debriefed each training scenario with care and professionalism. The lead
instructors worked as a team to develop a training product that would definitely affect Portland
Police officers and their work and community contacts in the field. This teamwork clearly had an
effect on the safety and tactical knowledge of the officers on the street. This scenario based and
evaluated training is some of the best in the country.
All of the instructors and nonsworn personnel completed these tasks with other duties on their
plates as well. Most of them had other trainings, satellite instructor schools and program
development to do while doing an exceptional job on the teaching and implementing the new
policies in the 2013 In-service.
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For your teamwork, effort and commitment providing sound and thorough training to Portland
Police Officers, the members of the Training Division are awarded the Portland Police UNIT
COMMENDATION MEDAL.
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Commendation Medal (14-36) Officers Casey Hettman and Brad Yakots
Officer Casey Hettman and Officer Brad Yakots are assigned to Central Precinct Afternoon Shift
and work a two-person district car. Officers Hettman and Yakots attended the E-CIT Training
last spring and were subsequently certified. They have embraced their training and demonstrated
compassion in their dealings with people in crisis.
Since last January, they have been involved in numerous calls regarding people in crisis, including
people who were threatening to jump off bridges. They were able to establish a positive rapport and
convince these subjects to not jump and be seen by mental health professionals. Officer Hettman and
Officer Yakots were able to convince one subject, who was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, to safely
come to their location and be taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. These incidents are
simply a highlight of Officer Hettman and Yakots’ proactive efforts in crisis intervention.
Officer Hettman and Yakots are recognized by their peer officers as outstanding examples of the
E-CIT Program. There overall work in the program is bolstered by the outstanding work habits in
all facets of patrol. Officer Hettman and Officer Yakots have also been selected to be community
liaisons because of their work with the mental health community and their willingness to speak
regarding workplace equity issues.
Officer Casey Hettman and Officer Brad Yakots, for your efforts to help those most vulnerable
in our community and your work to build partnerships with the mental health community, you
are hereby awarded the Portland Police Bureau COMMENDATION MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-25) Officers Pete McConnell, Derrick Foxworth and Leo Harris
Officer Pete McConnell is a current satellite patrol tactics instructor who realized that the
Bureau’s current active shooter training was not thorough and did not address critical issues
affecting such a situation, including working in partnership with the Fire Bureau.
Officer McConnell spent countless hours designing and creating a two-day class that has a new
lesson plan, multiple scenarios, hands-on drills, and now incorporates the Portland Fire Bureau
and the Portland Police Bureau working together on major incidents.
Officers Leo Harris and Derrick Foxworth of the Training Division ensured this training was
delivered by working to secure training sites and coordinating the schedules of instructors for
this valuable training. More than 100 officers have gone through this training and the feedback
has been overwhelmingly positive, including multiple officers saying it is the best training they
have ever had. The Police Bureau's patrol tactics training for the Advanced Academy will
incorporate this new training as well.
Officers Pete McConnell, Leo Harris and Derrick Foxworth, your hard work and tenacity to
create a more advanced active shooter training will have a lasting impact on Portland Police
Officers. Though we hope it does not occur in our city, active shooter incidents are becoming
increasingly familiar to law enforcement agencies. This training ensures Portland Police
Officers will respond using best practices and tactics. For this contribution, you are hereby
awarded the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-23) Officer Garret Dow, Corey Wilks, Dave Maller, Quang Chu, Dung Vu, Ron Lorenson and Chris Smith
In the fall of 2012, Officer Garrett Dow proposed the idea to connect the wanted vehicle files—
or BOLOs--from the Bureau of Emergency Communication dispatch system—or VCAD--with
the Automatic License Plate Reader system. Officer Dow saw the advantages of having the two
systems linked so that wanted vehicles would be quickly and automatically loaded into the
Automatic License Plate Reader cars ,which would increase the likelihood that suspect vehicles
would be found faster without officers having to individually enter the vehicle plates into two
different systems. Stolen Vehicles, Amber Alerts and other vehicles of interests could be
uploaded 24/7.
Officer Garrett Dow researched the proposal with Versaterm and 3M technologies and found it
had not been done before, but was technically possible. Officer Dow then coordinated with other
bureau and city partners to design the process for implementation. It truly became a team effort.
Ron Lorenson, BTS Dispatch Technology Support; Chris Smith, BTS Production Services; Dung
Vu and Quang Chu, BTS Dispatch Technology Support; Dave Maller, BTS Police lTD and
Corey Wilks, BTS Police lTD, worked together to develop this highly technical system. I could
try to explain it to you today, but none of us would understand it anyway!
The combined systems became operational last April and has helped Portland Police officers
locate more than 100 wanted vehicles that would not have been found without the use of the
combined systems. The system has proven so successful that Officer Dow was asked to present
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at an international conference of Versaterm users. Several other law enforcement agencies have
now asked to copy the work of the team that implemented the integration of VCAD and the
Automatic License Plate Reader.
Officer Garret Dow, Corey Wilks, Dave Maller, Quang Chu, Dung Vu, Ron Lorenson and Chris Smith, your innovative work to assist officers with locating suspect vehicles that were involved in criminal activity has made the Portland Police Bureau a leader in this kind of technology. You are hereby awarded the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-31)
Officer Lonn Sweeney
Officer Lonn Sweeney has been a Portland Police Canine handler since January 2005. During his
almost 9 years in the Canine Unit, Officer Sweeney has shown a passion for training police dogs
and has always made himself available to assist other handlers in the unit with improving their
skills.
Officer Sweeney has dedicated his own personal time to make himself a better canine handler
and canine unit trainer. Because of this commitment, he was offered the position of Portland
Police Canine Unit Assistant Trainer in 2010. Within the first year, Officer Sweeney assisted in
training 4 new dog teams and then served as the head trainer, training two more new canine
teams.
Officer Sweeney challenged himself by becoming an Oregon Police Canine Association State
Patrol Dog Trainer. This is no easy feat, as only three handlers with the Police Bureau have ever
held this title in the K-9 Unit's 30-year history.
Officer Sweeney, having nearly double the required experience and training hours, was accepted
as a Probationary Trainer in September 2012. Officer Sweeney spent his year as a probationary
trainer assisting in multiple statewide training seminars, successfully trained two additional
patrol dog teams, conducted large regional trainings and accumulating an additional 275 hours of
structured dog training. Last September Officer Sweeney was awarded a position as an OPCA
State Trainer.
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Officer Lonn Sweeney, for this hard-earned and remarkable achievement, and for your positive
and continuous contributions to the training and professionalism of the Portland Police Bureau's
Canine Unit and police canine teams throughout the State of Oregon, you are hereby awarded the
Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-15) Retired Officer Nate Shropshire and Officers Sean Macomber, Lance Tsukimura and Chris Watts
As budgets have affected the number of investigators and officers, the Bureau has continued to
look for ways to provide the same level of service to the community that they have in the past.
Since personnel numbers have been reduced, the Bureau now looks to technology to help fill the
gaps.
The Portland Police Bureau's Drugs and Vice Division assigned Officer Chris Watts to work as a
Technical Investigator in the early 2000's. Officer Watts began to educate himself on technical
criminal investigative techniques used by agencies all across the United States. Officer Watts
became a self-taught expert in the field of technical investigations. The technology was beta
tested on investigations in the Drugs and Vice Division and found to be extremely helpful and
cost effective.
In 2009, the Technical Operation Unit of the Drugs and Vice Division was formed. It consisted
of one Sergeant and three Technical Investigators (Officer Chris Watts, Officer Lance
Tsukimura, originally Officer Nate Shropshire and now Officer Sean Macomber).
Hundreds of research hours were put into finding the best technical investigative equipment for
the money and Technical Investigators worked diligently to educate themselves to provide a
level of service that would be considered at the top of industry standards. The equipment needed
for technical investigations is costly, so the officers learned how to construct the equipment
themselves and obtain equipment at a fraction of industry costs.
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The officers requested they be given a dedicated training slot at in-service to educate all
investigators on the techniques deployed by members of TOU. In addition members attended
PPB roll-calls and made numerous contacts with surrounding law enforcement agencies to offer
their assistance.
In 2009, Technical Operation Unit officers were deployed to assist in a technical capacity more
than 200 times. Word of mouth spread and last year, it was estimated to be close to 800 times.
Hundreds of suspects and criminal organizations were arrested, or dismantled because of
assistance provided by these officers.
Retired Officer Nate Shropshire and Officers Sean Macomber, Lance Tsukimura and Chris
Watts, for your work to advance the Bureau to use cutting edge technology to investigate and
apprehend suspects, and for your dedication to learning and training others in this technology,
you are hereby awarded the PORTLAND POLICE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-35) Officer Natasha Haunsperger and Irene Konev
Over the past 20-plus years, the Slavic Community in the Portland metro area has grown rapidly.
The Slavic community consists of Eastern European immigrants from the former Soviet bloc
countries, as well as from the former Yugoslavia. While each of these communities has distinct
individual characteristics, the Slavic populations share some commonalities in history, culture,
religion, and languages and face similar assimilation issues.
The Eastern European/Slavic community primarily consists of hard-working families with a
strong Christian value system, who are pursuing their dreams and goals of creating an
economically better and politically and religiously safer life for their families. The population
growth and assimilations for the Russian, Eastern European and Slavic immigrants has brought
with it many challenges, including a disproportionately high dropout rate; language barriers and
a lack of awareness about the American social norms and laws. These challenges lead to issues
such as criminal activity and immigrants who are coming from circumstances where the cultural
norm is to engage in conflict with corrupt governments and officials. This generates a lack of
trust with the community and law enforcement.
Officer Natasha Haunsperger has done an extensive amount of outreach within this community.
This led to the alarming realization that significantly more criminal activity is occurring with this
community than is being reported. Much of this underreporting can be attributed to a variety of
factors; lack of language skills, fear of retaliation, an innate lack of trust in police and a tendency
to "fix and resolve" problems within the community.
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Officer Haunsperger recognized the immediate need to educate the Slavic community on
criminal justice, crime prevention and community engagement. In turn, the Portland Police
Bureau needed to be educated on the fears and concerns of the Slavic Community. Officer
Haunsperger and Irene Konev, who works for the Independent Police Review Division,
presented the concept to establish a Slavic Advisory Council at the Police Bureau.
East Precinct Command and the Chiefs office unanimously agreed that this needed to happen.
On December 6, 2012, the first Slavic Advisory Council was held and attended by a variety of
Slavic community leaders and members of the Police Bureau.
One year later, the Slavic Advisory Council is thriving. The council developed a Mission
Statement and Goals (in English and Russian). In the past year, the Bureau and the Slavic
community participated in many events and plans are being developed for the Slavic Advisory
Council and Portland Police Bureau to hold a Youth/Family Forum in the spring.
Officer Natasha Haunsperger and Irene Konev, you recognized the need to bring police and the
Slavic Community together to build trust and develop relationships. This has already greatly
impacted those involved. For these ground-breaking efforts in establishing the Slavic Advisory
Council, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-28) Detective Anthony Merrill, Officer Colby Panter
On June 30, 2010, Detective Anthony Merrill and Officer Colby Panter became the lead
investigators on a shooting investigation that occurred at the Refectory Night Club. During the
initial call, responding uniform officers received information that a large group of suspected
gang members had assaulted two patrons, as they were leaving the establishment. The two
victims were shot by the suspected gang members.
According to statements made by the victims and witnesses at the scene, the two victims were
leaving the club when the group of gang members began arguing with one of the victims. Shortly
after the argument, one victim was punched in the face and knocked to the ground and then shots
were fired at them. One victim was grazed in the head with a bullet, while the other was shot at
five times.
Detective Merrill and Officer Panter interviewed more than 20 potential witnesses connected to
the shooting within the first four weeks of the investigation. They reviewed video footage from
the nightclub and surrounding areas where the shooting had occurred. They convinced a witness
to take a voluntary polygraph exam. They attempted to interview uncooperative gang members
who they suspected were at the club the night of the shooting.
After five weeks into the investigation, the case became cold, due to the lack of cooperation from
gang members, the video footage was not clear enough to identify who the shooter was, and none
of witnesses that were at the club that night were able to identify the shooter. Detective Merrill
and Officer Panter issued several wanted flyers for gang associates who were at the club that
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night who later became wanted for unrelated charges. Every time some of those individuals
would get arrested, Detective Merrill and Officer Panter would attempt to interview them in
hopes that one of them would cooperate with the investigation. Detective Merrill and Officer
Panter continued to make contacts with the numerous witnesses and the victims, they followed
up on several leads and anonymous tips, but they did not have any success.
In August 2011, Detective Merrill and Officer Panter received information from a confidential
source that identified several of the gang members that were involved at the Refectory shooting.
By September 2012, Detective Merrill and Officer Panter drove to the Coyote Ridge State Prison
in Washington and interviewed an inmate who identified the suspect in the shooting.
They also identified and located the suspect’s girlfriend, and discovered she was also present at
the shooting. They developed an arrest warrant and found the suspect was already in a
Washington prison, searched a hotel in Washington where the couple hid after the shooting and
learned the suspect was involved in a gang shooting in 2011 in Seattle. Many search warrants
and interviews later, they had built an incredible case. Last October, the suspect was indicted for
attempt murder, and was sentenced to 70 months in jail after he pled guilty to two counts of
Assault II with a firearm.
Detective Merrill and Officer Panter, for your extraordinary and exhaustive work, following
every single lead and building a thorough investigative case that led to the arrest of a dangerous
shooter, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-03) Nikki Morris
Nikki Morris is currently an Evidence Control Specialist in the Property Evidence Division.
Nikki is also a full-time volunteer for WomenStrength and GirlStrength. Since 2008, she has
volunteered more than 500 hours to teach personal safety skills to women and girls.
In 2008, Nikki became a volunteer self-defense instructor for WomenStrength, completing more
than 120 hours of training. In 2010, Nikki cross-trained to become a violence prevention
instructor for the new GirlStrength program. Nikki often taught more than the required classes,
sometimes two programs and sometimes extra 90-minute workshops.
Nikki functions as a lead instructor for both programs, as a guide and mentor for new instructors
in the classroom, as well as at the annual new volunteer training. Besides teaching, Nikki
actively recruits volunteers. For the past three years, she has taken the initiative to obtain and
post flyers, class schedules and applications in her local communities.
Since 2007, Nikki has also been a counselor for Camp Rosenbaum and has been a mentor for
young girls through the Big Sister program in Portland.
Nikki Morris, for your selflessness in volunteering your time and for your hard work and
commitment to helping positively impact girls and women, you are hereby awarded the Portland
Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-04) Officer Carrie Hutchison
In 2011, Officer Carrie Hutchison and other members of the Drugs and Vice Division initiated an
investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization—or DTO--distributing large quantities of
methamphetamine in the Portland area. As a result of this investigation, Officer Hutchison and
members of DVD seized more than 24 pounds of meth and identified the leader of the
organization as Juan Luis Pulido.
Later that year, Officer Hutchison was selected for a detached assignment with the DEA, where
she continued her pursuit of this DTO. Officer Hutchison helped in coordinating numerous
agencies to assist in this investigation. Last February, the team was able to obtain and execute
13 search warrants in Oregon and Washington. The team seized 281 pounds of meth, 1 pound of
cocaine; 391 pounds of heroin; 13 firearms; 4 vehicles, and $144,000. The total street seizure of
the drugs was more than 40 million dollars. In addition, 15 members of the Pulido DTO have
been arrested and are awaiting federal sentencing.
Officer Carrie Hutchison, for the commitment you demonstrated on focusing a team to
investigate and apprehend a large-scale drug trafficking organization, you are hereby awarded
the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Achievement Medal (14-16) Officer Zach Kenney
Prescription drug abuse has become an increasing problem in the United States. Most major drug
trafficking organizations—or DTO's--are run like a business and many have taken the
opportunity to cash-in on the cultural shift. No longer do DTO's have to flood a market with
discounted illegal drugs to obtain a constant stream of clients that have developed an addiction to
their product. Instead, DTO's have capitalized on a growing customer base of persons addicted to
pharmaceutical drugs.
The Portland Police Bureau has recognized this growing trend and has taken action. Officer Zach
Kenney has been assigned to the Drugs and Vice Division since 2009, and in late 2011, Officer
Zach Kenney was given a detached assignment with the DEA’s Diversion Task-Force, a position
he held until last September. During Officer Kenney's tenure at DEA, he participated in dozens
of Federal and State prescription drug investigations. Typically, investigations conducted by the
Drugs and Vice Division stop at the Oregon borders, and then leads are given to other
enforcement groups. Officer Kenney's assignment and Federal Law Enforcement powers allowed
him to take his investigations further. Officer Kenney traveled across the United States to
investigate pharmaceutical companies, interview narcotic suppliers, and seize assets that had
been purchased with illicit monies.
Officer Kenney was the only local law enforcement officer assigned to the task force. This meant
all state level investigations involving pharmaceutical drugs were assigned to him, increasing his
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workload immensely. Officer Kenney juggled both his Federal and State obligations, and became
recognized as an expert in the field of pharmaceutical drug investigations.
Officer Zach Kenney, for your tireless efforts to investigating the illegal use of pharmaceutical
drugs, on a state and federal level, which gravely impact the livability of our community, you are
hereby awarded the Portland Police ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
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Nathan Thomas Memorial Distinguished Service Medal (14-37)Kay Peterson
Kay Peterson is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a founding member of Project Respond.
Project Respond is a mobile mental health crisis response team. The team provides crisis
assessment to people experiencing a mental health emergency. Project Respond is a core partner
for the Police Bureau. Police Officers frequently call Project Respond to come to their scene and
help with the call.
Kay has chosen to spend her life serving people in crisis who are living on the margins of
society. She has an understanding and regard for the work that police officers do, and has been
on thousands of police calls, earning the respect of officers. Kay is a also a translator. She is able
to serve as a bridge between officers, mental health professionals and the community. Police
officers appreciate Kay's demeanor on a police call. She is simply unflappable.
Kay was asked to instruct Portland police officers in crisis intervention since the beginning of the
Crisis Intervention Team. Kay makes her topic relevant and valuable to the job of a police
officer. When the decision was made to make changes to the Crisis Intervention Team training,
Kay spent the next six months rewriting the 40-hour curriculum for the new CIT program and
then spent the next two years teaching every officer and sergeant in the operations branch.
In 2013, the ECIT program began. Again Kay was a part of the curriculum development as well
as an instructor.
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Only part of Kay's work is with the police bureau. As a Project Responder, she and her
teammates answer calls from concerned family members, business owners, schools, other social
service providers, and interact with people in crisis. She meets with people who sleep in the
stoops of downtown buildings or reside in the single resident occupancy hotels downtown.
People trust Kay. She builds a rapport and never gives up on them. She is an informal leader and
mentor within Project Respond.
Even as public funding has decreased and criticism of the community mental health has
increased, Kay has maintained hope. Her commitment to improving the lives of people who are
in crisis is irrepressible.
Kay Peterson, for your unwavering commitment to people with mental illness or people in
mental crisis, and for your years of continued efforts to train and support Portland Police Officers
so they can help people in crisis, you are hereby awarded the NATHAN THOMAS MEMORIAL
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.
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Distinguished Service (14-40) Chaplain Steve Chadwick
Chaplain Steve Chadwick has been a Chaplain for the Portland Police Bureau since 2007. As a
Chaplain, Steve has worked tirelessly to assist the men and women of the Portland Police
Bureau, both sworn and non-sworn.
Steve is assigned to both the Traffic Division and Central Precinct, where he has made many
friends, goes on ride-alongs, and serves both the community and the Police Bureau.
Since Steve became a Chaplain for the Portland Police Bureau, he has worked tirelessly on
developing "Police Rest Stops" that serve the men and women of the Portland Police Bureau.
Steve has partnered with citizens, churches and businesses within the community to develop
seven rest stops, which are a comfortable welcoming place for officers to go, to write reports,
rest, take a break, eat their lunches, just have some down time from the rigors of working the
street.
All of the "Police Rest Stops" are located in churches throughout the three precincts. The "Police
Rest Stops" are also used by other local law enforcement agencies. The church members provide
refreshments for officers. Many of the elder ladies of these churches keep freshly baked cookies
stocked for the officers. Several of the churches have extensively remodeled the areas for the
Rest Stops with help from businesses within the community. Furniture, TV's, cupboards, counter
tops and flooring have been donated to make the Rest Stops comfortable for officers. The
officers when visiting the Rest Stops will post thank you notes to the people who donate their
time, money and baking skills to ensure the officers have a nice place to rest and relax.
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In developing these Rest Stops, Steve has not only succeeded in gaining the trust and support of
many people and businesses within the community, he has also touched other communities and
churches, in not only Oregon but other states as well. Other communities in Oregon and
elsewhere are using Steve's Rest Stop model to develop their own in their communities.
Chaplain Steve Chadwick, for your dedication to ensuring the physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual well-being of Portland Police Bureau members, you are hereby awarded the Portland
Police DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.
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Distinguished Service (14-33 and 34) Lt. Larry Graham and Amy Jacobs
In 2002, Lieutenant Larry Graham developed a partnership with Fred Meyer stores and other
social service providers to begin the “Shop with a Cop” program, which pairs children in need
with police officers to shop for school supplies and clothing at the beginning of the school year.
In addition to the children obtaining these items, they are able to spend some positive time with a
police officer. The cost of the items purchased was covered by a combination of donations and
crime prevention funding.
Through Lieutenant Graham’s leadership, this event has continued to grow, with hundreds of
officers over the years volunteering their time to participate. In addition, Amy Jacobs of Fred
Meyer, has been pivotal in ensuring this program continues.
Amy has worked tirelessly to obtain funding and support from within the Fred Meyer
organization. Her leadership and encouragement has attracted many to volunteer and support this
program. Amy works with store managers and purchase agents to ensure the store is overstocked
with kids clothing on the day of the event so they have a large selection to choose from. She has
worked with Fred Meyer in obtaining incredible discounts on items, many times up to 70 percent
off.
Amy Jacobs and Lieutenant Graham have worked together to ensure this program thrives and
succeeds. Through their commitment to the program, more than 2,000 local kids in need have
been provided with more than $650,000 worth of back to school clothing and supplies.
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Lieutenant Larry Graham, for your leadership in developing and maintaining this program,
which has helped thousands of local children, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
Amy Jacobs, for your dedication to this program and your efforts with Fred Meyer to host and
partner with the Portland Police Bureau, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
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Distinguished Service (14-21) Pastor Marc Estes, Pastor Frank Damazio and the Congregation of City Bible Church
Lead Pastor Frank Damazio and Campus Pastor Marc Estes have demonstrated exemplary and
distinguished leadership over City Bible Church for many years and this has been very beneficial
for our community.
The pastors’ willingness to reach outside themselves and their church to those in need has
significantly enhanced the livability of numerous community members, especially Portland’s
most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens. Pastors Damazio and Estes accomplish their deeds
individually as well as leading several teams of volunteers, partnering with the City of Portland,
the Portland Police Bureau, and other governmental and non-profit agencies.
Some of their annual and ongoing projects include the "Live, Love" Project - a project where
individual citizens, normally non-church members, are identified and assisted by City Bible
Church volunteers with home improvements, food, money for necessary expenses, emergency
housing, and more. Multi-year projects have also included the adoption of local schools for
property cleanups and resources for teachers and students to include backpacks filled with school
supplies.
Pastors Estes has initiated ongoing projects with all Portland DHS facilities and the families they
serve. City Bible has provided services independently and in cooperation with other churches,
agencies, the business community, and members of the Portland Police Bureau. Some of the
services City Bible's teams of volunteers have provided include welcome boxes for children
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going into foster care, and working with specialists to provide mentors and counseling and care
packages to the clients of the Sexual Assault Resource Center. The pastors have coordinated
efforts with local medical specialists, barbers, painters, cleaners, etc. to provide free services to
Portland's most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens. They also coordinated Foster Parent
Night Out—a program in partnership with the Oregon State National and Air Guard, American
Medical Response, the Portland Fire Bureau, and the Portland Police’s Mounted Patrol, and the
Traffic Division, to provide a safe and fun venue for foster parents to drop off their foster
children so they can enjoy a night without any parental responsibilities while the children are
able to have a fun night with first responders.
The list of volunteer programs is endless and includes food boxes, Christmas gifts, summer
camps for the children, mentoring and more. They have provided resources to Portland Police
Officers, by providing a no-cost venue for police-related functions and for officers to use clean
restrooms, eat meals and write reports. They host multiple annual breakfasts and events to
recognize, support, and provide resources to Portland's veterans and first responders.
Pastor Frank Damazio and Pastor Marc Estes, your leadership and compassion is renowned
throughout the community. Through your efforts, thousands of people in our community have
been positively impacted. Your partnership with the Police Bureau and other agencies, is a
testament to what can be accomplished when we work together to assist those in need. It is my
honor to present you and the congregation of City Bible Church with the Portland Police
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
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Distinguished Service (14-18) Robbie Thompson
Investigator Robbie Thompson has worked for the District Attorney’s Office since 1982. During
her tenure, Investigator Thompson has worked on hundreds of homicide and gang cases.
establishing an astounding relationship with crime victims, crime victim's families, witnesses,
and numerous agencies.
Over the years, Officers and Detectives have sought out Investigator Thompson's advice on
investigations and techniques to solve difficult cases. Investigator Thompson has always made
herself available, spending countless hours of her personal time to assist community members in
need as well as law enforcement personnel.
During her tenure, Investigator Thompson has maintained a strong work ethic and passion for
her job that has motivated detectives and other investigators to strive to do their best to solve
cases and maintain justice for both the community as well as for the victims of serious crimes.
Investigator Thompson has been able to continue her pace by keeping a positive attitude and
passing her demeanor onto others.
Investigator Thompson was selected to be one of the founding members of the Portland Police
Bureau Cold Case Homicide Unit in 2004, and spent several years and immeasurable hours
helping get the unit up and running. During her time in the Cold Case Homicide Unit,
Investigator Thompson was instrumental in solving forty-plus cases that were earlier deemed
unsolved or closed. Investigator Thompson's current assignment is DA Investigator Major Cases.
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Investigator Thompson has investigated, participated in the investigations, and continues to
investigate and assist on hundreds of homicide and major crime cases.
Investigator Thompson has the unique ability to connect with people of all walks of life and
convince them to do the right thing in the criminal justice system. She has had a lasting impact
on numerous victims and witnesses. Many of them continue contact with her after the case is
resolved and she always finds times to make their life better.
Investigator Robbie Thompson, for the professionalism, compassion and dedication you have
shown for many years and for your work to enhance public safety and community livability, you
are hereby awarded the Portland Police DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.
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Distinguished Service (14-14) Sergeant Jay Bates
Sergeant Jay Bates is currently assigned to the Drugs and Vice Division where he supervises the
Technical Operations Unit. Sergeant Bates is a leader in the Drugs and Vice Division, where he
has demonstrated time and time again that he has a deep and abiding respect for the rule of law.
Sergeant Bates’ most recent accomplishment is the development and oversight of the Technical
Operation Unit--TOU. TOU provides support to numerous investigations in the Portland Police
Bureau and assists with investigations at the state and federal level as well. Technology has
changed the way investigators are combating all types of crime. TOU, with the guidance and
support of Sergeant Bates, has provided assistance to hundreds of investigations to include:
homicide, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, forgery, fraud and theft.
While Sergeant Bates’ recent accomplishments are impressive, he also has a long-standing
exemplary reputation within the Police Bureau that precedes his work in DVD. Sergeant Bates
was hired in 1996 and worked patrol until 1999 when he was assigned to the Drugs and Vice
Division. It did not take long for Officer Bates to distinguish himself as one of the top
investigators within the division. In the first six months of 2001, two individuals died as a result
of MDMA overdoses. Officer Bates along with DVD Officer Michael Krantz, took a lead role
within the division investigating club drugs and rave culture. The extent of knowledge and
experience that Officer Bates accumulated resulted in the acknowledgement from several
agencies that he’d become an expert in the field. Officer Bates was asked to perform training
and/or presentations to more than twenty groups including the Mayor of Portland, the US
Attorney's Office, judges, local district attorneys, as well as many other community forums.
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In April, 2003, Officer Bates applied for a drug canine position within the Drugs and Vice
Division, and embarked on a five-year assignment with Portland Police canine, Xtro. Officer
Bates and Xtro were extremely effective in interdiction, assisting patrol officers, as well as DVD
investigators in the discovery of hidden narcotics and proceeds from the distribution of illegal
narcotics.
During the years that Sergeant Bates was assigned to the Drugs and Vice Division as an officer,
he became known as a mentor to new officers in the unit. Sergeant Bates has been a reliable
resource for reviewing affidavits, warrant planning, providing community education, and
performing his daily duties with integrity and accountability. Since being promoted to the rank
of sergeant, he has continued to be an effective and dependable leader, focused on successful
crime reduction strategies.
Sergeant Bates, for your long-standing leadership, professionalism and commitment to building
education and enforcement strategies to combat illegal drugs in our community, you are hereby
awarded the Portland Police DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
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Distinguished Service (11-47) Retired Sgt. Doug Justus
Retired Sergeant Doug Justus provided many years of dedicated service to the Portland Police
Bureau and community during his 25-year career.
As a uniform patrol officer, he displayed energy and skill to make numerous self-initiated felony
arrests. Those qualities led to his selection as a member of the original Gang Enforcement Team
in Portland. Sergeant Justus participated in, wrote and executed dozens of high-risk search
warrants to arrest violent offenders, seize narcotics and firearms, and the assets garnered from
the sale of drugs. Their efforts led to the arrest and conviction of numerous gang leaders and
associates, and significantly reduced the levels of crime and violence in neighborhoods wracked
by shootings and killings by gangs.
In 1994, he was promoted to Sergeant and showed the same level of professional skill and zeal to
solve cases as he had on the street. Sergeant Justus aggressively worked cases to incarcerate
offenders, recover stolen property, and provide comfort and closure to the victims and their
families.
During his tenure as the sergeant for North Precinct's Detectives and Neighborhood Response
Team, Sergeant Justus combined the resources of his detectives and NRT officers in a
concentrated effort to attack the root of most crime within the precinct, which was drugs.
Problem addresses were identified, and were made the focal points of intensive team
investigations, combining the aggressive use of search warrants and follow-up actions under the
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chronic nuisance ordinance, trespass agreements, and the use of other agencies to assist property
owners in managing their properties. This led to the quick resolution of problem situations, and
inspired confidence in the community by providing concrete examples of how they could
improve their own neighborhoods through working with the police.
Sergeant Justus created a working committee consisting of other city bureaus and county
agencies to identify problem addresses, develop strategies that would complement a
law enforcement solution, and then manage them on a monthly basis. Under his leadership, a
comprehensive set of trespass agreements with motel owners on N. Interstate Ave was created to
allow police to take appropriate action as needed to reduce crime along the Interstate MAX
corridor. Sergeant Justus built lasting relationships with the North Portland Business
Association and the Swan Island Business Owners that enhanced cooperation and reduced
the frustration they often felt when trying to get assistance from the police.
Sergeant Justus worked as the vice sergeant for the Drugs and Vice Division for his last three years at the
Bureau. With his usual desire to excel, he formed a team that actively attacked prostitution. His efforts
were so successful that his team was renamed the Human Trafficking detail and placed in the Detective
Division. Sergeant Justus' efforts revealed the unknown level of compelled prostitution and human
trafficking in Portland, and opened up an important dialogue.
Sergeant Doug Justus, for your dedication and work over the years to make Portland a safer and
more livable community, you are hereby awarded the Police Bureau’s DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-41)Officer Neal Glaske
On the evening of November 29th, 2013 a 9-1-1 caller reported a man looked as if he was
preparing to jump off the 12th Avenue overpass above the Benfield Freeway to commit suicide.
Officer Glaske was in the area conducting routine traffic patrol and responded to assist. Officer
Glaske arrived and noticed the man had climbed over the railing and was making statements he
intended to kill himself by jumping off the overpass.
Officer Glaske immediately began talking with the man and quickly developed a rapport with
him. Officer Glaske slowly began approaching the man, explaining it was difficult to talk from
so far away. As they continued to talk, he edged a little closer to the man.
Officer Glaske got the man to talk about what was troubling him and offered to get him some help. The
man said his 27-year marriage had ended and he wanted only to hurt himself. Officer Glaske continued
to speak with the man and after awhile, he was able to get the man to climb back onto the sidewalk and
away from the railing. The man met Officer Glaske and together they walked to the waiting police car
that would transport him to a hospital where he would receive emergency psychiatric treatment.
Officer Glaske’s quick decision to take charge of the situation and immediately initiate crisis
negotiations with him kept the man from ending his life on this day. The man later told police he felt
Officer Glaske genuinely cared for his welfare and wanted to help him.
Officer Glaske, for your quick actions in preventing a man from jumping to his death, you are
hereby awarded the Portland Police LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-32) Detective Todd Gradwahl, Officers Aaron Sparling, Dennis Wilcox, Gabi Hertzler, James Hurley, Joshua Faris, Thomas Snitily, Chad Gradwahl, and Nicholas Frankus
In the early morning hours of April 22nd, 2013, the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT)
and the Crisis Negotiations Team were activated to respond to a motel on SE Powell Boulevard,
on a barricaded subject.
Central Precinct officers had learned that the subject staying in the room had a parole violation
warrant for murder and assault with a firearm. Officers contacted the suspect and attempted to
get him to surrender. The suspect did not comply with the officer's request, told them to evacuate
the motel, and placed a can of lighter fluid on the window sill. SERT arrived and relieved
Central Precinct officers.
The incident commander directed SERT to move the armored car in front of the room with
SERT personnel and a CNT negotiator. The suspect did not come out of the motel room, despite
repeated requests to do so. Negotiators spoke with the suspect on the phone off and on for
several hours. He told them he wasn't going back to prison, had been using heroin all day, and
that "today was a good day to die."
SERT officers observed him pour some lighter fluid on the floor of his room during the stand-
off. In addition he was armed with a hatchet, which he used to chop the window sill of his room.
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The suspect asked the negotiator if officers would shoot him if he came outside holding the
hatchet. After several hours, the incident commander directed SERT to breach the door to the
room. Officers could see into the room, but did not see the suspect. He emerged from the
bathroom and threw the hatchet in the direction of the officers at the armored car. The suspect
concealed himself in the bathroom again, and officers began to see a stream of lighter fluid
spraying from the bathroom onto the floor, wall, and furniture of the motel room. Officers started
to see the glow of a fire come from the bathroom, and then the motel room erupted in flames.
The area around the door and the door itself were on fire.
Officers yelled for the man to come out, but he refused to do so. The incident commander
directed SERT to deliver CS gas into the back of the motel room in an attempt to drive the man
out. Detective Todd Gradwahl and Officers Chad Gradwahl, Gabe Hertzler, Jim Hurley, and
Josh Faris, left the protection of the armored car and approached the burning motel room. Officer
Hurley, Officer Faris, and Detective Gradwahl provided cover for Officer Gradwahl and Officer
Hertzler to accomplish the mission. Officer Gradwahl tossed a CS canister toward the motel
room. Officer Hertzler used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames around the door. The fire
subsided for a short time, but quickly regained its intensity due to the accelerant and materials
the suspect was feeding the fire. Intense heat and thick black smoke billowed from the window
as the suspect emerged from the bathroom. He was able to reach the window and lean outside,
but could not go any further. Officers Nick Frankus, Tom Snitily, Dennis Wilcox, Aaron
Sparling and Chad Gradwahl left the safety of their position and approached the front window
where the man was. Officer Snitily covered the officers while they were able to grab him, and
pull him through the window without sustaining any injuries from the broken glass. Officer
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Chad Gradwahl used a fire extinguisher to keep the flames at bay until the fire bureau personnel
arrived and extinguished the blaze.
The officers involved in this incident took substantial risks in trying to help a suspect who knew
he was going back to prison, was armed with multiple weapons, and showed a willingness to use
those weapons against the officers.
Detective Todd Gradwahl, Officers Aaron Sparling, Dennis Wilcox, Gabi Hertzler, James
Hurley, Joshua Faris, Thomas Snitily, Chad Gradwahl and Nicholas Frankus, for your
demonstrated tremendous professionalism, dedication, and compassion in saving a man’s life,
you are hereby awarded the PORTLAND POLICE LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-30) Officers Ramsey Boak, Tom Brennan and Nancy Luciano
On the afternoon of March 17th, 2013, at Officers Ramsey Boak and Tom Brennan were
dispatched to the west end of the St. Johns Bridge, regarding a woman who was trying to commit
suicide by jumping off the bridge. The original 911 call was made by Nancy Luciano, who was
driving on the bridge when she saw the apparent suicidal subject starting to climb over the railing
on the bridge. Ms. Luciano realized the woman was trying to kill herself, and immediately
stopped her car and got out to talk with her. While engaging the suicidal subject in conversation,
Ms. Luciano called for police on her cell phone.
Officer Brennan arrived on scene first and could see the woman straddling the railing, while the
caller was still trying to talk her down. Officer Brennan realized if immediate action was not
taken, the woman would jump to her death. He ran up to where the woman was straddling the
railing, and grabbed her around the shoulder area to keep her from jumping off the bridge.
Officer Brennan could see that Officer Boak was right behind him, so he held on to the woman
until Officer Boak could grab her and lift her away from the railing. They then transported the
woman to a local hospital.
Officers Tom Brennan and Ramsey Boak for your quick actions in preventing a woman from
jumping to her death and Ms. Nancy Luciano, for taking the time and effort to intervene and call
for emergency responders, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-19) Officer Kevin Allen
Officer Kevin Allen responded to call regarding an unknown woman who was unconscious and
possibly overdosed on an unknown substance. When Officer Allen responded, he found two
women in an apartment, one clearly high and the other unconscious and not breathing. A CPR
instructor, officer Allen broadcast updated information and began chest compressions until
medics arrived.
Responding medical arrived and took over, but if Officer Allen had not begun CPR, the woman’s
condition would have likely deteriorated.
Officer Kevin Allen for your quick actions in rendering aid to an unconscious woman in an
attempt to save her life, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-16, 14-17) Officer Alfonso Valadez, Officer George Weseman
In the afternoon of August 26th, 2013, Officer Alfonso Valadez was dispatched to the field
behind Ron Russell Middle School regarding an unconscious male suffering from an apparent
drug overdose.
Officer Weseman also responded from nearby and found the male. The officers determined the
man was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Officer Weseman advised dispatch of their
location for medical to respond and began chest compressions.
Officer Valadez tilted the man's head back to open his airway and began to monitor the man for a
pulse. Medical response was delayed because the location was not easily accessible or visible
from the street. Officer Weseman continued chest compressions for about two minutes before the
male began to occasionally gasp for air.
Officer Valadez then relieved Officer Weseman and continued the chest compressions. After
several minutes, the officers switched again with Officer Weseman resuming the compressions.
By the time medical arrived, the man had regained a pulse and continued to gasp for air.
Officer Alfonso Valadez and Officer George Weseman, for your actions in rendering aid to an
unconscious man in order to save his life, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police
LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-11) Officers David Brooks, Greg Moore and Timothy Engstrom
On March 25th, 2013, Officers Engstrom, Brooks and Moore responded to a welfare check at the
Comfort Inn at in southwest Portland. A mother called concerned that her daughter was suicidal
because she had a history of making suicidal threats and was sad over a break up that occurred
earlier in the night. The mother said her daughter did not make mention of specific threats to
commit suicide, but she was concerned.
Officer Moore learned that Lake Oswego Police had responded to a domestic disturbance call
earlier in the night involving the couple. He confirmed no crime was committed, and that the
woman left to go to a hotel and ultimately, get a flight back to Tennessee where she was from.
Officers Engstrom, Brooks and Moore responded to the hotel and spoke to the staff. After having
her cell phone pinged, which indicated it was in the room, all three officers attempted to make
contact with the woman, but received no response at the door. The officers obtained the room
key, but the key would not open the door, indicating that the dead bolt was locked from the
inside. Officer Engstrom called for a fire truck to provide a ladder, and the officers looked into
the window and saw the lights on and blankets on the floor. They could not see the entire room.
Officers Engstrom, Brooks and Moore felt they needed to gain entry, concerned the woman was
inside out of view and potentially in danger. The officers were able to re-contact the hotel staff,
who was able to obtain equipment to open the internal locks.
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When the officers entered the room, they found several suicide notes that had been left on the
table. They found the woman inside the closet hanging by a bed sheet. Officer Engstrom untied
the knots on the bed sheet lowering the woman down. And though at first she was unresponsive,
she began breathing. Medical personnel entered the hotel room and rendered aid, and the woman
was transported to the hospital.
Officers Engstrom, Brooks and Moore were presented with a call in which they did not have
specific facts that a woman was suicidal. They were presented with a mother's hunch and
additional supportive information. They took the extra time to obtain as much information as
they could, and went above and beyond to check the welfare of this woman, ultimately saving
her life.
Officers David Brooks, Timothy Engstrom and Greg Moore, for your actions to save a young
woman’s life, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-10) Officer Tyrone Willard, Officer William Johnson and Bonnie Holtgrew
On the evening of July 10, 2013, Officer Tyrone Willard self-dispatched to a call regarding a
person who was possibly going to jump off the Glisan Street overpass of 1-205. Upon arrival, he
saw a man standing outside the railing directly over the southbound 1-205 lanes of busy evening
traffic.
A woman passing by, Bonnie Holtgrew, was trying to talk to the man out of jumping as the
officer arrived. She had also called 9-1-1. Officer Willard immediately began to engage the
subject in conversation in hopes to distract him from jumping. Meanwhile, he was mentally
rehearsing a plan regarding how he would stop the man from jumping that would cause the least
danger to himself or others.
While the verbally unresponsive subject stood outside the rail, he turned his head looking at the
freeway. The man let go of the rail and began to slowly fall forward. Officer Willard knew the
man was going to fall to his death in addition to causing additional life-threatening events with
vehicles on the freeway avoiding the falling man. Officer Willard had to suddenly put his plan
into action, and he ran toward the man grabbing him in almost a bear hug. Once this happened,
he dropped his weight to his knees on the street side of the rail to avoid being pulled over the rail
by the man’s weight. At this point the male was hanging by his arm.
Officer William Johnson was arriving as this was happening and he quickly ran up also taking
hold of the subject. With Officer Johnson's assistance, both officers were able to bring the man
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back over the railing and into safe custody. Moments later, while seated in the back seat of the
patrol car, the 61-year-old man thanked the officers for saving his life.
Officer Tyrone Willard and William Johnson and Ms. Bonnie Holtgrew, for your combined
efforts to save this man’s life so he could get the help he so critically needed, you are hereby
awarded the Portland Police LIFE SAVING MEDAL.
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Life Saving Medal (14-09) Officer James West
Officer James West was on patrol last 4th of July on SE 82nd Avenue, when he came across a
pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian, a 10-year-old boy, had been struck
in the crosswalk by a passing car and hurled through the air approximately 45 feet, suffering
head injuries.
Officer West called for medical responders and additional units. Initially, the boy’s breathing
was labored and he was unconscious. His breathing ceased at one point and Officer West
administered CPR. During this time, he was able to locate and broadcast the license plate of the
vehicle and preserve what was now a crime scene. He continued CPR until relieved by
responding paramedics.
The boy was transported to Doernbecher's Children's Hospital, and was in critical condition with
life threatening injuries. However, by July 9th, the boy was doing fabulous according to the
charge nurse. The nurse also stated if Officer West had not taken the prompt action, the boy
could have died.
Officer West, for your quick action in saving a boy who had been struck by a car and gravely
injured, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police Bureau’s LIFESAVING MEDAL.
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Police Star (14-37) Officer John Billard
On October 30th, 2012, Central Precinct officers contacted a suspicious male downtown. While
these Officers attempted to take this subject into custody, the subject brandished a dagger and
threatened officers. Officer Billard, who was in the area, self-dispatched himself to cover on this
incident. The subject then fled on foot from the Central Officers and a foot pursuit followed.
Officer Billard was able to catch up with the subject, and as he attempted to end the foot pursuit,
the suspect resisted arrest and Officer Billard lost his footing. Officer Billard fell into a nearby
road sign and ultimately landed on the roadway. The impact against the road sign caused
numerous broken ribs and a punctured lung. Officer Billard also hit his head in the fall, causing a
severe laceration and concussion.
Officer Billard was transported and admitted to the hospital as a result of his injuries. After he
was released, he was off work for two months and required extensive physical therapy.
Officer Billard, for the grave injuries you sustained trying to take an armed man into custody,
you are hereby awarded the Portland Police Bureau’s POLICE STAR.
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Civilian Medal-Heroism (14-13) Scott Adams
On the morning of August 19th, 2013, East Precinct officers responded to a bank robbery at the
Bank of the West. The suspect jumped out of a vehicle and ran toward a construction site near
the Portland Community College administrative buildings, which were nearby. This is a very
busy area with heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Officers do not have a lot of success
locating people who flee in such an area and hide because a K-9 track is nearly impossible.
Scott Adams was working at the PCC construction site on this day. He noticed the suspect
running through the construction site and lost sight of him when the suspect rounded the corner
of a building.
Mr. Adams heard someone yelling that the bank nearby had just been robbed and immediately
knew he had just seen the robbery suspect. Mr. Adams started running toward the area he last
saw the suspect running. He confronted the man, who told him if he intervened, there was going
to be a fight. The man turned to leave and Mr. Adams ran ahead of him, preventing him from
escaping.
The suspect attempted to punch Mr. Adams, but he reacted quickly and punched the suspect,
causing him to double over. Mr. Adams moved behind the man and restrained him. The two
men fell to the ground. One of Mr. Adams' co-workers joined him and they held the suspect
until police arrived to take the bank robber into custody. The suspect also had an outstanding
felony warrant from Nevada.
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Bank robberies are inherently dangerous due to the fact that bank robbers oftentimes are in
possession of guns or dangerous weapons. People who commit bank robberies are desperate and
will go to great lengths to escape arrest since they know a bank robbery charge is a federal crime
mandating years in prison. Mr. Adams could have easily been injured by the suspect, due to the
extremely hazardous situation. Yet Mr. Adams continued to take action to stop this bank robber.
Mr. Scott Adams, for your selflessness and bravery to stop a felon, thereby putting your own
personal safety at risk, you are hereby awarded the Portland Police Civilian Medal for Heroism.
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That concludes our ceremony. The Chief is available for photos. Police Bureau members please
come up to receive your ribbon bars.
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