Chief Harnden has been with the Albany Police Department since December 2019, prioritizing officer wellness and culture building. Prior to her tenure at APD, she provided 25 years of public service to the Bellevue Police Department in Washington State

1. What is a piece of advice you wish you could have told your younger self?
Balance life and focus as much on family as the job. The only people who will remember that you worked late or a lot of overtime are your kids.

2. Is there a particular person, movie, book, or experience that has influenced you? Tell us about it.

I had a great chief in Washington that taught me the importance of relationships. He talked about the importance of treating your people with dignity and respect. “You maybe their superior but they are never your inferior.”

 3. If given a free afternoon (or evening) how would you spend it?
Working on the yard and gardening. There is truth to the saying, “John Deere Therapy”.

 4. What was an activity you enjoyed when you were 10-ish?
I have played soccer for most of my life so I was doing a lot of that.

 5. Tell your fellow association members something they might not know about you.
My family used to own a chain of islands in the San Juan Island grouping called Sucia Island. It was seized from my family because alcohol was hidden there during prohibition, as well as other smuggling activity. It is now a Washington State Park for boaters and kayakers. If you look closely, there is a small Harnden Island in the chain. Harnden Island is still private and is currently for sale.

Chief Mike Krantz started his LE career in Portland and transferred to Bend in 2020 to take on the roll as chief. Having been part of the OACP since 2018, Mike has served on multiple committees, including the Education, Training, & Conference, Executive Resources, & Intergovernmental and Legislative committees. 

1. What is a piece of advice you wish you could have told your younger self?

I joined the Portland Police Bureau at 21 years old, filled with gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to pursue my childhood dream within an esteemed organization. However, my eagerness to immerse myself in the job I loved, led me to overlook the potential toll of working demanding 50–70-hour weeks on my well-being. Over time, this imbalance significantly affected my fitness and wellness. Reflecting on this, I recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, a lesson I wish I had understood earlier.

 Moreover, I believe there should be greater organizational awareness of the adverse effects of overburdening employees. This experience has motivated me to advocate strongly for prioritizing the health and wellness of our workforce at the Bend Police Department. I hope that now, as a leader, I can be the voice that I wish I had heard when I started this career.

2. Is there a particular person, movie, book, or experience that has influenced you? Tell us about it.

My career as a police officer has been influenced and shaped by my personal early childhood experiences and my mother's admirable traits. Among the many influences in my life, my mother's exceptional work ethic and strong moral compass were particularly impactful. Her dedication and integrity were a constant source of inspiration for me in my journey as a law enforcement officer.

 Furthermore, my experiences with the Portland Police Bureau as a young adult and throughout my early career there reinforced the importance of dedicated service and ethical conduct. These experiences have deeply influenced my approach to my profession, instilling in me a strong sense of responsibility and a commitment to working hard to serve my community with integrity and empathy.

3. If given a free afternoon (or evening) how would you spend it?

If given a free evening, I would likely spend it coaching youth in sports. Despite witnessing many adverse life experiences in my career as a police officer, coaching kids offers a refreshing perspective on the future. Coaching provides me a chance to influence young people positively and provides a much-needed break from the demands of law enforcement work. Coaching allows me to contribute to the community differently and rejuvenates me for the challenges ahead. While allowing me to concentrate and become completely immersed in the game with the kids.

4. What was an activity you enjoyed when you were 10-ish?

My escape and passion were riding my BMX bike through the neighborhood and typically finding my way to the dirt jumps all my friends and I had built. This resulted in many crashes and injuries, but these were summers of fun.

5. Tell your fellow association members something they might not know about you.

This is a very hard one for me to answer, I am a super open book and don’t really have many things that people don’t know about me. However, I do believe that deep down, my interest in law enforcement came from watching the many re-runs of Adam 12, CHIPS, Starsky and Hutch, and Miami Vice with my dad.

Photo from Newport, OR where Chief Gullberg spent grades 3 - 7 (1976-1982) before returning to Gresham where he was mostly raised. He is a hometown chief.

What is a piece of advice you wish you could have told your younger self? Life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. It is okay to fail if you learn from your mistakes. Enjoy the ups but be ready for the downs. You will experience them both, and how you handle adversity is key to your success. Finally, take care of your loved ones. Without them, none of this is possible. 

Is there a particular person, movie, book, or experience that has influenced you?  There are three influential people in my life. My mother was an incredibly strong woman. She endured a difficult childhood, had struggles as a young adult, and lost her life to cancer at the young age of 54. With the odds stacked against her, my mother’s legacy is two successful sons, four grandchildren, and many friends and family members who were positively influenced by her grace, compassion, and commitment. Jesus Christ is also very influential in my life. I often think about the powerful work Jesus did through his teaching, healing, and leading others. Jesus represents to me, “service above self,” which is my personal mission statement. Finally, when I think about leadership in the moment and during challenging times, I look no further than President Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln led our country during a challenging time of unrest and civil war, President Lincoln’s leadership held our nation together and ensured we progressed towards a greater union and equal rights for all. 

If given a free afternoon (or evening) how would you spend it? I love to garden, play board games with family, and relax with my two mini-dachshunds: Tommy and Vinnie.

What was an activity you enjoyed when you were 10-ish? Do you have a picture of you when you were around this age? I was all about sports and have been for most of my life. My true love is basketball, but I excelled in soccer and managed to play at the collegiate level. I was tall for my age (back row left #42) which helped me stand out as a youngster. However, in high school everyone caught or passed me up. 

Tell your fellow association members something they might not know about you. I love classic cars and currently own a 1976 K5 Cheyenne edition Chevrolet Blazer.

1. What is a piece of advice you wish you could have told your younger self?
There is plenty of time to become a police officer! Find a way to go away to college, and experience things away from home. You don’t have to eat, sleep and breathe law enforcement to have that career a little later in life. Grow up some and mature. You will  be able to make better decisions about life and your career with a little more life experience!

2. Is there a particular person, movie, book, or experience that has influenced you?
I have been influenced by many people over the course of my life. Like most people, my parents are the most influential for sure. Both my mother and my father can be credited with giving me the things I needed to succeed in life like the ability to communicate, listen, cook, and work. After their separation and divorce, I was probably influenced the most by a deputy from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Department. This deputy taught me a lot! He also taught me how to have fun - doing things I liked to do. He showed me that it’s ok to prioritize what you like and to not always worry about everyone else. He also taught me about ethics and telling the truth; reminding me that as long as you keep your word, tell the truth, and do the right thing, there aren't many bad things that can happen to you, especially if you are doing your best in all you do. 

3. If given a free afternoon (or evening) how would you spend it?
I like to spend time taking care of things that I can’t otherwise take care of. Also, I enjoy spending time on the road, just taking a drive in (or on) one of my “toys”. Out on the road I feel connected to greater things and can think clearly. Making the occasional stop to visit with someone new or taking pictures have also been enjoyable activities on those rare free days. 

4. What was an activity you enjoyed when you were 10-ish?
When I was 10, one of the things that I loved to do was to go prospecting with my grandfather. My grandfather was an amazing man, of few words. He and I would go camping in his 1965 Ford pick-up truck, with a home-made canopy. He would have me digging sand/rocks/and dirt, and then pouring it into a sluice box. Once the black sand was left, he would use a gold pan to find that ever precious metal. I will say it was fun finding chunks of gold, the best part of that whole experience was the huckleberry pancakes and bacon in the morning. Only a few experiences since have come close to the joy those times brought me when I was 10.

5. Tell your fellow association members something they might not know about you.
I am an open book, what you see is what you get. Two things that I really like to do now, when I am not at work is to volunteer for the St. Paul Fire Department. I am currently a Captain and an EMT. I take a week off every year to work the St. Paul Rodeo and am a Rodeo Medic. The second thing has been to feed my love of “LOUD” music by being a DJ. I have DJ ’d about150 weddings in the last 23 years, playing at events and parties all over the state.

Chief Rick Stokoe of Boardman PD currently serves on OACP's Executive Board and is in his third year as the Vice President at Large. 

1. What is a piece of advice you wish you could have told your younger self?
As a police officer, one valuable piece of advice I wish I could have told my younger self is to always prioritize self-care and mental health. The nature of police work can be extremely demanding and stressful, often leading to burnout and emotional strain over time. It's crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms early on, seek support when needed, and do not hesitate to utilize available resources for mental well-being. Taking care of oneself allows for better resilience, decision-making, and overall effectiveness in serving the community.

2. Is there a particular person, movie, book, or experience that has influenced you? Tell us about it.
I would say my father has been a huge influence in my life. He has been in law enforcement 54 plus years. Another is a former Sheriff and good friend that I worked for. He mentored me over my career and showed me how to be a good, fair leader.

3. If given a free afternoon (or evening) how would you spend it?
With my family. Like most of us who have taken this path, throughout my career my family has paid the biggest price during my law enforcement journey. Without them I would not be where I am today. I am truly grateful to them.

4. What was an activity you enjoyed when you were 10-ish?  
One of my lifelong passions is fishing. When I am not working and have free time I am usually out on the river.

5. Tell your fellow association members something they might not know about you.
I mentioned my father earlier, I also have a long line of family members: a mother, brother, aunt, uncles and cousins who have chosen this noble profession. I would also like to use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you that have retired and the ones who are still serving. It has been a true honor to know and work with you. I cherish all of those relationships.

More images from Chief Troxel and his Family:

Chief Troxel's swearing-in with Dad Tim & Mom Debbie

Chief Troxel's swearing-in with family

(Nicole, Jace, & Peyton)

Backyard Fire time with family.