Jan Childers, Jeremy Hepp, Beverly Pearman

Our Public Safety and Security team recently held their annual awards breakfast where they honored employees for their hard work, leadership and other notable accomplishments.

Worthy of an extra round of applause are Karyl Larsen and Jan Childers,  recipients of the Award of Excellence. This award was created to recognize exceptional contributions to our core values of leadership, service and inclusion:

"Karyl passed away in August 2025 and is deeply missed. She is awarded the Award of Excellence in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our police department and the public safety community over more than three decades.

Karyl began her public safety career in 1993 as an emergency dispatcher and joined our department in 2001. Over the next 24 years, she became a cornerstone of our organization. She was our most senior Police Clerk in both tenure and institutional knowledge, serving with humility, grace, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Karyl never sought the spotlight. She worked quietly behind the scenes, lifting others up and ensuring the success of those around her. Her work earned recognition and awards over the years – honors she never mentioned and never expected. She was our LEDS Rep, payroll expert, trainer, and a steady point of contact for law enforcement partners, courts, and the public. Her knowledge of our systems and processes was unmatched, and her memory was legendary.

She treated every interaction with warmth and respect, often catching and correcting errors before anyone noticed – making us all look more professional and prepared. Her care extended beyond the workplace. She was deeply involved in her community, supported animals, and brought joy to those around her with her wit, kindness, and love for classic movies and old radio shows.

Karyl’s absence is profoundly felt, not only for the work she did but for the person she was. Her legacy of service, humility, and compassion continues to inspire us every day."

Jan Childers:

"For the past three years, Jan has been nominated for these awards in each of the categories, so it’s only fitting that she receive the Award of Excellence.

This year’s nominations focused on her inclusivity. Sgt. Childers has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building bridges between law enforcement and the community. She fosters positive relationships with underrepresented groups and promotes cultural understanding and awareness within the department, ensuring equitable treatment and access to services for all community members.

Some examples: She volunteers year-round for Special Olympics events – including the Polar Plunge, Tip-A-Cop, Plane Pull, and other fundraisers – and supports athletes at their annual Summer Games. For more than fourteen years, she has taken vacation time to volunteer as a counselor at Camp Rosenbaum, which serves low-income children from Oregon and Southwest Washington through a week-long summer camp on the coast and a youth day camp in Portland. In addition to volunteering at the camp, she’s also active in their fundraising events.

I would also be remiss not to recognize Jan for the incredible work she has done training new hires. Since she became training sergeant in 2022, we have hired around 27 officers, and Jan has led their training program – no small feat. At one point, she had 18 officers in varying stages of training, from academy through probation, at the same time. She also serves as an informal mentor for officers and sergeants and supports her fellow sergeants by covering shifts when others are on vacation. On top of all that, Jan serves on the Safety Committee for PD.

Jan is a shining example not only of inclusive policing but also of all the Port values—leadership, inclusion, service, and safety. She has truly made a lasting impact on our organization."

Congratulations also go out to our other Public Safety and Security award recipients:

Teamwork

• Noah Juarez, Lea Rivera, Airport Communications Center; John Sargent, Rema Grossman, Port Police; Joseph Hedden, Jordan Miller, Matt Pixley, Mike Janes, Ben Davis, Stephen Bowe, Portland Airport Fire & Rescue
• Janae Moore, Heather Diebert, Traci Stannard, Port Police
• Karen Soules, Airport Communications Center; Karen Crone, Aviation Security

Leadership

• Portland Airport Fire & Rescue: Renee Jarussi, Mike Spina
• Port Police: Greg Stevens, Cassie Hartless, Crystal Hill, Rohn Richards
• Public Safety and Security: Jason Hetherington
• Airport Communications Center: Karen Soules
• Aviation Securty and Badging: Monica Whitted, Nick Fauble, Mimi Priest

Service

• Port Police: Diego Calderon, Jack Dunteman, Steve Maracle, Justin Berss
• Airport Communications Center: JJ Johnson, Ryan Scott, Rachel Stout
• Portland Airport Fire & Rescue: Ryan Roy

Inclusion

• Public Safety and Security: Brenda Reynolds
• Port Police: Erin Flinn
• Portland Airport Fire & Rescue: Meghan Mulligan-Gallop 

Partnership Award for Service

• Paula Reese and Marisa Benson, Cascadia – Behavioral health clinicians