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December 18, 2024

Presenter: Josh Bitsko
Captain Las Vegas PD (Ret.)

 "UNLV Active Shooter Debrief" 

Presentation Overview:

 In December of 2023, there was a tragic mass shooting at the University of Nevada Las Vegas where three professors lost their lives, and another was critically injured.  Retired Captain Joshua Bitsko was the incident commander for the event and will present a tactical debrief on the suspect’s actions, officers’ response, incident command structure, and lessons learned. 

Joshua has been the incident commander on two active assailant incidents (a mass stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip and the UNLV shooting).  He was also one of three officers to breach the door on the 1 October Massacre in 2017.  He will give unique insight into active shooter response and provide the students with real life tactics that will help police executives manage critical incidents.

                  Register Today! Early-bird pricing ends tonight at midnight!                  

                              Thank you to our 2025  ELTS Conference Sponsors:                            

 
 
 

This is a paid advertisement

 
 

Although a bit picture heavy - we couldn't resist sharing images that brought so much joy.  Understanding we could not capture every event across the state in this newsletter, we encourage you to take a peek at Facebook early next week as we share even more of these wonderful moments. 

Chief Harvey  & Corvallis PD

Chief Copeland  & Keizer PD

Chief Scales & McMinnville PD

Chief Chase & Cottage Grove  PD

Chief Malloy & Newport PD

Chief Womak & Salem PD

Chief Huskey & Sandy PD

Chief Parise & Hubbard-Donald 

Chief Lewis & Redmond PD

Chief Lopez & Sunriver PD

Chief Shurtz & Milton-Freewater PD

Chief Plummer & Madras PD

Chief Caldera & Pilot Rock PD

Chief West & Gervais PD

Chief Jepson - Beaverton PD

Chief Cooper & Ontario PD

Chief Tro & Canby PD

Chief Long & Molalla PD

Chief Wade & U of O PD

Chief Millican & Woodburn PD

Chief Schmerber & Gladstone PD

 

For over 40 years, the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) has recognized outstanding individuals whose dedication, courage, and service have left a lasting impact on their communities, agencies, and the association. Through a series of prestigious awards, the OACP honors those who go above and beyond to embody the values of leadership, mentorship, and selfless service.

Over the previous weeks, we've covered several awards. Here's a brief recap:

The Paul Nagy Award honors exceptional contributions to the OACP that exceed its already high standards. The Max Patterson Award celebrates those who make a profound impact on young people through community programs. The Karlyn Campbell Award recognizes members who stand out as mentors, fostering growth and leadership in others. The Jim Jones Lifetime Achievement Award highlights retired members who continue to advance professionalism in law enforcement, demonstrating unwavering dedication to service.

This week, the OACP pays tribute to additional awards. The Medal of Honor is reserved for those who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, while the Medal of Valor is awarded to members who risk serious harm to save or protect lives. Similarly, the Life Saving Award recognizes members whose quick thinking and heroic actions have directly saved the lives of others. The Special Service Award is presented to an Active Member for outstanding service to the OACP.

Together, these awards reflect the OACP's deep appreciation for the dedication, leadership, and sacrifices made by dozens of recipients over the years. Each honoree's contributions stand as a testament to the values of integrity, courage, and service that define the law enforcement profession and inspire future generations. While we'd like to share images of all our recipients,  spacing is limited, so below are just a few of those receiving the previously named awards. 

Chief  David Dryden - Medal of Valor – 1996

Chief Mike Cahill- Special Service - 1997

Chief Joe Simon - Special Service  - 2013

Chief Rick Stokoe - Lifesaving – 2014

Chief Mark Miranda - Lifesaving  – 2014

Chief Kris Allison - Special Service  – 2016

Chief Jim Band - Special Service  - 2016

Shirley Morgan - Citizen Merit - 2017

Chief Bob Day -  Special Service  - 2019

Judy Willey - Citizen of Merit  - 2019

(Accepted by Rick Puente) Joined by Chief Steven Winegar who received the Karlyn Campbell Award.

 

Thousands of mushrooms, arsenal of guns, grenades seized from Oregon home
KOIN
A multi-agency investigation into a suspected illegal marijuana ring led authorities to a stockpile of mushrooms and guns found inside a home in Bandon, Ore. on Dec. 11, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said. 
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OSP release new illustration of woman’s unidentified remains in hopes of solving 25-year-old cold case 
KTVZ
With the assistance of a new "facial re-approximation," a 25-year-old Oregon State Police cold case is receiving new attention. 
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Police seek Wilsonville warehouse manager who allegedly stole $1.2 million in products and equipment
OregonLive
Adrian Cooper, of Wilsonville, was a warehouse manager for Okonite Manufacturing, a national company that produces underground wiring for public utilities, the Sherwood Police Department said in a statement Tuesday. 
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N.J. sheriff deploys drone patrol unit to investigate mystery sightings
Police1
Officials in Seaside Heights and Ocean County allege the federal government has not investigated and released information to the public in a timely manner.
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Man pleads guilty to operating secret Chinese police station in NYC
ABC
The suspects in the case, Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping, were accused by prosecutors last year of working on behalf of China's Ministry of Public Security in violation of the Espionage Act.
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Wisconsin police search for answers in rare case of female school shooter
Reuters
Police in Wisconsin on Tuesday were interviewing friends, family & the online presence of a 15-year-old girl to determine what drove her to open fire at her private Christian school, killing a fellow student and a teacher before taking her own life. 
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OACP Weekly Update
Send feedback by contacting the OACP Office at 503.315.1411 or by visiting the website: www.policechief.org