The Port of Portland Police Department recently held its annual awards ceremony to recognize exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to the department and community by both employees and citizens. Join us in congratulating the award recipients and celebrating their notable accomplishments. 

Lifesaving Award

The Lifesaving Award is given to an employee who is directly responsible for the saving of a human life by rendering aid or taking other swift and skilled actions. The award recipients are:

Officer Rema Gossman, Officer John Sargent, and Officer Dio Morales

Meritorious Service Award

The Meritorious Service Award is awarded to an employee for demonstrated exceptional service in a duty of great responsibility or of critical importance to law enforcement. The award recognizes great competence in a stressful situation, in a stress position over an extended period of time, or for performance well beyond expectations in an investigative or special capacity.

Detective Sergeant Tim Osorio

Unit Citation Award

The Unit Citation award is presented to a unit of 2 or more officers, multiple units, multiple employees both internal and external, sworn, and non-sworn, working together to accomplish a common task in an effective and professional manner. This award recognizes the positive and demonstrated teamwork of these employees whose performance of duty has been indicative of a high degree of initiative, determination, and cooperative effort in the fulfillment of difficult or important assignments, the furtherance of protecting life and/or property, or increasing the effectiveness and prestige of the Department. The award recipients are:

Police records clerks: Jenae Moore, Traci Stannard, and Heather Deibert 

K9 Unit: Officer Rema Gossman, Sergeant Greg Stevens, Officer Jacob Cassity, Officer Erik Hargrove, and Officer Jeremy Mocek 

Department Recognition Award

Department recognition is presented to an employee (sworn or non-sworn) for outstanding performance of duty. The performance may be during a single incident, over an extended period of time, or for contributing to the success of a project or program. The award recipients are:

Police Detectives Cassie Hartless and David Baker

Officer Steven Mitchell

Officer Scott Swingle

Officer Ramiro Martinez

Community Partnership Award

The Community Partnership Award is awarded to a business, organization, or individual who worked in partnership with the Port of Portland Police Department to provide outstanding service to the Port of Portland Community in a project or over an extended period of time. The award recipients are:

Vehicle Maintenance: Ryan Davidson, Nick Jones, Michael McConnell, Nevin Davidson, Nick Ford

Chief's Commendation Award

The Chief of Police may select an employee(s) each year for special accomplishments significant to the operational success of the Department. The award recipient is:

Karen Soules

Staff Member of the Year Award

The Staff Member of Year Award is awarded to the non-sworn employee who consistently performed outstanding service to the Department, citizens, and community throughout the calendar year. The award recipient is:

Jenae Moore

Police Office of the Year Award

The Officer of the Year Award is awarded to the commissioned law enforcement officer who consistently performed outstanding service to the Department, citizens, and community throughout the calendar year. The award recipient is:

Officer Skip Baker

2025 Agency of the Year

At this year's awards event, the Port Police were also presented with an award from our nonprofit partners at Kindness 911: 2025 Agency of the Year.

If you're not familiar, the goal of Kindness 911 is to connect first responders with the people they serve to foster positive relationships.

For our officers, this means being on the lookout for PDX employees, volunteers, and travelers who commit thoughtful acts to award them with "kindness citations." In addition to the citations, Kindness 911 makes a small donation to local charities in the name of those who exemplify kindness, compassion, and goodwill.

To be recognized as the Agency of the Year is a significant achievement that highlights our commitment to making a positive impact on our community. As Kindness 911 shared, "The Port Police took home top honors thanks to the number of Kindness Cops who participate in the program each month. They have built Kindness Citations into their culture and prove that together, we can do more. Congratulations to Chief Wallis and the Port Police for their incredible work, one kind act at a time!"