It was an honor to welcome so many attendees to the OACP Annual Conference, and we thank all who joined us. Your engagement is appreciated and is what gives this gathering its purpose - these events are built by those who show up and invest in strengthening the profession.

As a reminder, speaker surveys and the overall conference evaluation are still available - your submission of each is greatly appreciated. They can be accessed in the conference app under the “Survey” tab, and individual speaker evaluations are completed by selecting the schedule icon, choosing your session, and submitting feedback there.

All completed evaluations submitted by Friday will enter attendees into a drawing for one of two Cabela’s gift cards or a two-night stay at Chief Harnden’s beach house in Pacific City.

This past week marked the next chapter in the association’s leadership. We recognize Chief Harnden as she transitions into the role of Current Past President, and congratulate Chief Krantz, who now steps into the role of President for the 2026–2027 term.

(From Left to Right: Vice President at Large, Chief Mark Daniel, Current Past President Chief Marcia Harnden, President Chief Mike Krantz, 1st Vice President Chief Travis Gulleberg, 2nd Vice President Chief Nick Troxel, Secretary-Treasurer Chief Stacy Kelly.)

As we conclude another successful conference, we are reminded that leadership transitions are not just procedural, they are a reflection of continuity, trust, and shared purpose. Thank you again to all who attended, contributed, and helped make this year’s conference meaningful. We look forward to carrying this momentum into the year ahead.

Chief of the Year Award

Chief Dave Rash, Rogue River PD

At last week’s Oregon AssociationChiefs of Police Awards Banquet, OACP Director Kevin Campbell presented Chief Dave Rash with the 2025 Police Chief of the Year.

Chief Rash’s career, spanning more than 34 years in law enforcement, has been defined by integrity, humility, and a consistent commitment to excellence. During his tenure as Chief in Hubbard, he established a strong model of community-centered policing that built lasting trust between the department and the residents, schools, and businesses it served, while maintaining the fiscal discipline and strategic leadership essential to small agencies.

While leading the Rogue River Police Department over the past two years, Chief Rash achieved several significant milestones, including fully staffing the department for the first time in more than a decade, securing Northwest Accreditation Alliance certification, and ensuring every officer attained the highest level of DPSST certification.

Throughout his service in Southern Oregon, Chief Rash also strengthened regional collaboration by expanding training opportunities and fostering deeper interagency partnerships across Josephine and Jackson Counties. His involvement with both the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police and the FBI National Academy Associates reflected his ongoing commitment to professional development and relationship-building across the profession.

Chief Rash was honored by his peers, his community, and the officers he led for a career marked by vision, service, and lasting impact on law enforcement in Oregon.

We are honored to recognize the following Chief of the Year nominees:

Rainier Chief Gregg Griffith | Newberg Chief Jeff Kosmicki | OSP Superintendent Casey Codding   | Scappoose Chief Chris Fluellen |

Newport Chief Jason Malloy |Gearhart Chief Joshua Gregory| Canby Chief Jorge Tro| North Bend Chief Cal Mitts |

North Plains Chief Nick Jones | Salem Chief Trevor Womack | Rogue River Chief Dave Rash | Gresham Chief Travis Gullberg

Max Patterson Award

Chief Isaiah Haines, Monmouth PD

Chief Isaiah Haines was selected as the recipient of the Max Patterson Award in recognition of his exceptional commitment to youth wellness, prevention, and community partnership. Through his initiative and perseverance, he brought the nationally recognized Tall Cop Says Stop program to Monmouth, creating a rare and meaningful opportunity for parents, educators, health professionals, and law enforcement partners to come together in addressing the challenges facing today’s youth.

His leadership equipped dozens of families and practitioners with critical insight into emerging drug trends, empowering earlier intervention and strengthening community awareness. More importantly, he demonstrated that prevention, collaboration, and education are not simply programs, but a philosophy of service-centered leadership.

Through his dedication to the well-being of young people and the strengthening of community trust, Chief Haines exemplifies the servant leadership, innovation, and integrity that define the spirit of the Max Patterson Award.

As Chief of the Gladstone Police Department, John has helped redefine the relationship between law enforcement and the school community, ensuring the School Resource Officer role serves not only as a safety presence, but as a trusted mentor and bridge between students and public safety. His service on the boards of the Gladstone Education Foundation and First Tee of Oregon further reflects a commitment that extends well beyond the badge.

Chief Schmerber understands a simple but powerful truth: healthy, supported youth create healthy and safe communities. The lives he has shaped and the relationships he has strengthened will echo for generations to come.

President's Award

Chief Harnden also recognized additional recipients of the President’s Award who were unable to attend the conference. Their names and photos will be shared once the awards have been formally presented to each recipient.

Chief Mike Krantz received the President’s Award in recognition of his hard work and leadership surrounding ALPR legislation during Oregon’s legislative short session.

The OACP proudly celebrated and recognized the law enforcement agencies, sheriffs' offices, and communications centers throughout Oregon that achieved accreditation or reaccreditation throughout the last year.

This achievement reflects the extraordinary work of chiefs, sheriffs, directors, command staff, supervisors, accreditation managers, dispatch personnel, sworn officers, professional staff, and community partners who collectively contribute to excellence in policing and emergency communications across our state.

We offer special recognition to the agencies receiving their INITIAL accreditation, a significant milestone that represents years of preparation, dedication, and organizational commitment:

Oregon State Police | Gresham Police Department | Rogue River Police Department | Eagle Point Police Department | Cottage Grove Police Department | Roseburg Police Department | Junction City Police Department | Mt. Angel Police Department | Umatilla County Sheriff's Office | LOCOM 9-1-1 | Umatilla 9-1-1 | Grants Pass 9-1-1

We also commend every agency achieving reaccreditation and milestone renewals. Sustaining accreditation over multiple cycles reflects an enduring commitment to excellence, leadership, and service to the communities of Oregon.

Sunriver Police Department | Milwaukie Police Department | McMinnville Police Department Newport Police Department | Oregon City Police Department | Grants Pass Police Department | Newberg-Dundee Police Department | Carlton Police Department | Ashland Police Department | Boardman Police Department | Silverton Police Department | Canby Police Department | Sandy Police Department | West Linn Police Department | Deschutes County Sheriff's Office | Clackamas County Sheriff's Office| Jackson County Sheriff's Office | Crook County 9-1-1 | WCCCA

Thank you for your dedication to maintaining the highest standards in public safety.

The Oregon Association Chiefs of Police congratulates Chief Cal Mitts and Chief Trevor Womack on their retirements and their combined decades of dedicated service to law enforcement and the communities of Oregon and beyond.

Together, their careers reflect more than 60 years of public service marked by steady leadership, innovation, and a commitment to strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Chief Mitts devoted more than three decades to Oregon law enforcement, serving the Coos Bay community for over 25 years in roles from Reserve Officer to Captain before briefly serving with the Redmond Police Department. He later returned to the South Coast, ultimately retiring from Coos Bay in 2021, and went on to serve as Chief of Police in North Bend, where he guided the department through leadership transition, supported officer development, and strengthened organizational stability and community relationships.

Chief Womack also dedicated more than 30 years to public service, including his tenure as Chief of the Salem Police Department since 2020. During his time in Salem, he led efforts to modernize operations, expand transparency, implement body-worn cameras, strengthen data-driven policing, and build collaborative community partnerships. Prior to Salem, he served nearly three decades with the Stockton Police Department in California, rising to Deputy Chief and holding key leadership roles.

The OACP recognizes both Chiefs for their leadership, professionalism, and lasting impact on the agencies and communities they served. We extend our sincere gratitude for their service and wish them both health, happiness, and fulfillment in retirement.

Both of these chiefs were nominated for the Chief of the Year Award in recognition of the accomplishments and leadership highlighted above.