Sending extra thanks to all that supported the annual Shop with a Cop campaign!
In partnership with the Clackamas County Peace Officers Benevolent fund, our officers joined law enforcement agencies throughout the county to deliver gifts to youngsters in need. Participants are chosen by school counselors and school resource officers.
Thank you for creating a little holiday magic!
Officer Oscar Fregoso began with the Lake Oswego Police Department on March 2, 2020, then started his 16-week Basic Police Academy at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) in Salem on March 16. One day later DPSST made the difficult decision to suspend their multiple classes due to COVID-19 and all attendees were sent back home to their respective agencies. Oscar spent the next several weeks with the LOPD training division working on basic skills, then was assigned a Field Training Officer and began his training out on the road.
On July 6 Officer Fregoso returned to DPSST to resume his basic police course. The academy took extra steps to promote social distancing which included students and staff wearing protective masks and those housed in dorms living in single-occupancy rooms. Upon his return Oscar worked hard and was voted class leader by his classmates.
On September 10 while much of Oregon was affected by the massive fires burning throughout the state, DPSST allowed their students to return home if needed to help their families evacuate. Officer Fregoso’s family was in a level three evacuation zone and he left temporarily to go assist them. The following week Oscar told us that training was once again affected at DPSST as the smoke was too thick in the area. All outdoor classes had to be postponed and the students were limited to indoor classroom work only.
Despite all the obstacles, Officer Fregoso’s class graduated on October 22 and Oscar was asked to be the class speaker. Typically graduation draws hundreds of family, friends, and co-workers, however once again due to COVID restrictions no one from outside was allowed to attend. Oscar noted that despite all the hurdles, he enjoyed his time at DPSST and made connections that will likely follow him throughout his career. Officer Fregoso is back in Lake Oswego working with a Field Training Officer and will likely be ready to work solo early Spring of 2021.
On Monday November 2, 2020, the Lake Oswego Police Department welcomed four new officers, all laterals who have worked for other agencies in Oregon.
Officer Ben Schneider was an officer at LOPD from 2011-2015 before going to OHSU PD where he held the rank of sergeant. He has said that he is happy that he is returning to Lake Oswego. When he is not working he is with his family, coaching youth sports or supporting his two children while they are playing.
Officer Ryan Leslie has been an officer at OHSU PD for 2.5 years. He was raised on the East Coast however he and his wife love all the outdoor activities available to them in Oregon.
Officer Grant Thommen came from Hubbard PD where he was an officer for the last 1.5 years. He was raised in the Salem area where he joined the Marion County Sheriffs Office Cadet program. Grant told us he has always wanted to be a police officer.
Officer Chris Moreland previously worked for Albany PD for nine months. He graduated from Newberg High School then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he was trained to be a Military Police Officer. He and his wife are expecting a child in the next few weeks.
With COVID-19 restrictions, the department was unable to hold the traditional Swearing-In Ceremony with their families, friends and new co-workers. Instead there was a short informal ceremony to allow the new officers to swear to the Oath of Office with Chief Jorgensen.
Lake Oswego is fortunate to have successfully recruited these four experienced officers as they have all previously attended the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training 16-week Basic Police Course. They will spend the next several weeks in orientation with the training division, then will begin training with individual Field Training Officers on the road until they are ready to work solo. All four expressed that they look forward to serving the community of Lake Oswego.
🚒👨🏻🚒🚜👮🏽♀️ Not all heroes wear capes! 2020 has brought numerous challenges, but we are grateful to the City’s frontline workers who serve this community every day. The last few weeks, crews from Fire, Police, Parks, Public Works, and the Water Treatment Plant have worked tirelessly to respond to the wildfires and windstorm. Our hearts go out to those that have been affected by the fires, including members of City staff. Let’s give these incredible individuals the gratitude they deserve! THANK YOU 💙🙏🏽❤️
Thank you, LO Fire. Fire not only kept our community safe, they also worked on the frontlines to protect our state, serving on crews at the Clackamas Wildfires, Hwy 242 Fire and others.
Thank you, LO Police. Police had 18 officers help the City of Molalla evacuate. Police also had two officers covering calls for Molalla Police daily through 9/19 so officers in the community were able to rest.
Thank you, LOCOM. Our 9-1-1 dispatchers absorbed increased call volume from Clackamas County to help with evacuation orders and life and safety calls.
Thank you, Parks team. Parks crews implemented closures due to fire risk and poor air quality. In one day, our team closed 15 playgrounds, 27 restrooms, 7 parking lots, 4 dog parks/off-leash areas, 9 athletic fields, 22 natural areas, and the golf course. They are also cleaning up damage in parks caused by the windstorm.
Thank you, Public Works. Public Works responded to Monday’s windstorm by clearing 20 down trees and working with PGE to minimize power outages. By Tuesday, over 50% of our team were in Level 2 or higher evacuation. In the midst of evacuating families, they actively repaired fire trucks and cleared streets for travel.
Thank you, Water Treatment Plant operators. These heroes ensured firefighters had water to fight fires and our communities had clean drinking water. The staff worked 12-hour shifts in order to increase water production to aid neighboring water systems with water supply for fire related demands.
As temperatures soar into the 90s this Labor Day weekend, LO Police and Fire want to provide you some safety tips. When winds, temperatures and humidity are mixed, fires can ignite and spread very rapidly. When these conditions are just right, a red flag warning will be issued which will often put higher restrictions on open burning.
In Lake Oswego, any kind of open burning, including yard debris, is not allowed except small recreational fires contained in a firepit or fireplace (and that is year around). The fire should not be any larger than 2’x3’, be contained, and only appropriate fire wood is allowed.
Many people may take to the waters to cool off this holiday weekend. This often brings other risks–from sunburn, to drownings, people driving (a boat or car) intoxicated, and fatal incidents. Using safety equipment – like sunscreen and flotation devices – is important for all of us. And, above all, don’t drink and drive.
And with BBQ season in full swing, there are some precautions you can take for fire safety:
Remember, be safe this holiday weekend and #MaskUpLO! For more fire safety information, please visit https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/fire/safety-tips
Last week Officers Valesano and Svoboda responded on a male who had reportedly overdosed on Oxycontin, was not conscious and his breathing status was questionable. The officers arrived ahead of the medical crews and while one administered two separate doses of Naloxone (Narcan), the other attached an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient. No shock was advised and the officer began CPR. Medics arrived within a few minutes and the patient began breathing on his own prior to being transported to a local hospital.
Earlier this week Officer Palmeri responded on a possible heroin overdose; the patient was unconscious and again, breathing status was questionable. Officer Palmeri arrived just ahead of medics and administered a dose of Naloxone as medics began prepping for other life saving measures. Within a few minutes of receiving the Naloxone the patient was conscious, breathing and talking.
These are just two examples of how swift intervention with Naloxone can save lives. The Lake Oswego Police Department is one of a multitude of agencies across the country who train and equip their officers with Naloxone as police officers increasingly end up being the first on scene in drug overdose situations.
CONTEST: Wearing a face covering protects our community and helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. So let’s see those selfies, Lake Oswego! Enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a local LO business of your choice!
The Lake Oswego Police Department would like to congratulate Matt Dungey on becoming Lake Oswego’s newest police officer.
Matt graduated from Lakeridge High School in 2012, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2013 and was Honorably discharged in 2017. During his time in the Army he received several service awards and ribbons, reaching the rank of Specialist E-4, and was a team commander.
In April of 2019, Matt Dungey was hired by Lake Oswego as a Community Service Officer. He has been an integral part of that division; handling ordinance, parking and animal complaints, assisting with special events, and providing general assistance to the community. His peers describe him as a self-motivator adding that he is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
On August 3rd Officer Dungey was sworn in during an informal ceremony in Chief Jorgensen’s office. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the department was unable to hold a traditional swearing-in which typically involves family and friends. Matt will spend the next few weeks with the training division working on mandatory training with an emphasis on community policing and de-escalation techniques. He will then be paired up with a field training officer and begin the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP). He is scheduled to attend the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) 16-week basic police academy later this year.
Officers Shayla Ball and Dashon Panetta-Hunt graduated from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) 16-week Academy on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Their class was impacted by COVID-19 when on March 17, just a little over eight weeks into the Academy, the classes were put on hold and students were sent home. Over the next few months they spent time with the training division, working on mandatory training with an emphasis on use of force and de-escalation techniques. They were then paired up with field training officers and spent five weeks in the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP), before returning to the Academy on June 8. Extra steps were taken at DPSST to promote social distancing with students and staff wearing protective masks when needed, and those housed in the dorms were put in single-occupancy rooms.
Both Officer Ball and Officer Panetta-Hunt took a leadership role throughout their time at DPSST and were part of an exceptional class, receiving the ‘Director’s Award’ for their attitudes and professionalism as well as earning all the flag citations; only three other Academy classes have been able to accomplish this. They will return to their field training officers next week and proceed with FTEP. We anticipate they will be out on their own sometime in December.
Congratulations Shayla & Dashon!
Officer John Brent and Chief Youngbar
Officer John Brent will be retiring on Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 after 30 years in law enforcement, 28 of those years being with the Lake Oswego Police Department. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we are unable to hold a retirement party for him. Following are excerpts from the department wide memorandum that was sent out by Chief Jorgensen to convey appreciation for John’s work.
“Officer Brent started his law enforcement career with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office on July 2, 1990 as a Reserve Deputy. On December 15, 1991 he was hired full time as a Curry County Deputy Sheriff. On April 15, 1992 he began his Lake Oswego career.
John started making his presence known while at DPSST (Department of Public Safety Standards & Training), although back in his day it was called BPST. He attended the Police Academy from July 1992 to the end of August 1992. In just 8 short weeks he was squad leader, a member of the color guard, received an award for his skills in defensive tactics and received the Victor G. Atiyeh Award, which was/is one of the highest honors at the academy.
Shortly after his return from the academy Chief Youngbar, the Chief who hired John, was quoted as saying “He has been outstanding and I expect nothing but great things.” John has lived up to that quote throughout his career.
John had the opportunity to shape many of us during his time here. He has been a defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, field training officer (just ask Sheldon and Chon), Association President, armorer, detective and most recently represented us at TriMet. In all of these positions he’s served admirably.
John has been recognized many times throughout his career for his excellent work. One such time was early in his career where a suspect that he arrested contacted the department. The supervisor who wrote up the commendation thought for sure the suspect was contacting us to complain about John, when in fact the suspect was calling to compliment him. The suspect said that John was “extremely pleasant, great and that he went above and beyond in his treatment of him.” There were many other compliments and recognitions that were sent in regarding John, to name them all would take pages and pages.
All of us will make an impact while here, and John’s impact will be lasting. His dedication, demeanor, wit, compassion, knowledge and work ethic are some of the characteristics we should all strive to emulate. Thank you, John, for all that you have done for our department, it’s members and our community. You will be missed and we wish you well in your retirement.”
