PORTLAND, Or.–
The FBI Portland Field Office held a ceremony to recognize several community leaders and organizations from across the state of Oregon at their headquarters office on May 9, 2025.
The community awards ceremony, the office’s third, highlighted government and non-profit entities who work closely with FBI personnel in the area to accomplish various aspects of our mission; to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.
Among those in attendance, in addition to the awardees and their friends and families, were Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Bill Narus, Criminal Chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Bolstad, Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan Stayton City Manager Julia Hajduk, and former Portland FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Jordan.
“The FBI mission is clear: to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Olson. “Though the words are straightforward, the work is anything but simple. This mission demands collaboration—it’s a shared effort that depends on strong partnerships with fellow law enforcement agencies, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the dedicated individuals in our communities.”
“Your involvement is essential to the success of this mission we all share. So, today is about thanking our partners. Partners across our community, partners from law enforcement, and partners at the U.S. Attorney’s office. While the FBI is a large federal agency, we are incapable of achieving our mission without all of these partners being recognized today,” he said.
The awardees included:
- Local Community Partner Award—Kids First Children’s Advocacy Center: Kids First is Lane County’s Children’s Advocacy Center. Their mission is to provide intervention and advocacy for children who are victims of/or witnesses to crime. Minor victims are referred directly by community partners: law enforcement, DHS Child Welfare, and medical professionals. Kids First most often serves children who are victims of child sexual abuse, physical abuse, severe neglect, or witness to domestic violence.
- Exemplary Service Award—Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Paaso: Since May 2020, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Pamela Paaso has been the principal prosecutor for crimes committed on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Statistical accomplishments that can be attributed to AUSA Paaso ’s work with the Warm Springs Safe Trails Task Force include 74 indictments, 52 convictions, and the sentencing of 47 subjects.
- Exemplary Service Award—Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas H. Edmonds and Lewis Burkhart, Supervisory Paralegal Kelly Borroz, Victim-Witness Specialist Samantha Lwali-Welsh, Milwaukie Police Department Detective/FBI Task Force Officer Tony Cereghino, and Portland Police Bureau Detective/FBI Task Force Officer Brett Hawkinson: The group was nominated for the FBI’s Exemplary Service award as a result of their outstanding efforts in a long-term complex investigation leading to the conviction of six individuals for their roles in a violent robbery series in 2016 that included the violent death of a Milwaukie, Oregon, man.
- Law Enforcement Leadership Award—Chief Gwen Johns, Stayton Police Department. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness campaign and grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics. Known honorably as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into the Opening Ceremony of local competitions, and into Special Olympics State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. Chief Johns has been active with the Special Olympics for over 15 years. She is the chair of the Awareness Committee and also an Oregon State Regional Coordinators covering Yamhill, Polk, and Marion Counties. She has been instrumental in organizing Law Enforcement Support for the Torch Run and other Special Olympic events such as tournaments and the annual Polar Plunge which occur year-round. These activities serve to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics while bringing the community together to support local athletes.
- Director’s Community Leadership Award—National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation (NWCAVE). NWCAVE is a non-profit dedicated to advocating for victims and survivors of various forms of violence and exploitation. They focus on incidents involving human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, missing and murdered individuals, bullying, hate crimes, gun violence and more. Their mission statement is, “We have a dream; a world without violence.” Since their inception in 2012, NWCAVE has provided services for over 30,000 victims of crime not just in Oregon, but in Washington and California as well. They are intentional in using their platform and programs to shed light on issues surrounding violence and exploitation. They strive to educate and hold safety briefings for community members through their speaker ’s bureau to help prevent future violence.
- FBI National Academy Associates Award—Chief David Rash, Rogue River Police: Chief David Rash has dedicated over 30 years of service in law enforcement to protecting communities in Oregon. He has served communities in Milwaukee, Hubbard, and now Rogue River, where he currently serves as the Chief of Police. Chief Rash is a past-President of the Oregon Chapter of the FBI National Academy Association, but his service to the chapter did not end when his time on the board was over. He remains a trusted and valuable partner who is known for his acts of service, historical knowledge, and willingness to step up when needed most. So much so, the phrase, “Let ’s ask Rash” has become common place. He continues to volunteer by organizing regional gatherings across the state, and consistently recognizes promotions or retirements of chapter members. Chief Rash is a great example of what service should look like, as he has dedicated so much time over the years to his community, and to his law enforcement partners.
- FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association Award—Jocelyn Libby: Jocelyn volunteers over 100 hours each month to the Trauma Intervention Program NW (TIP) and has responded to 18 incident calls since the beginning of 2025. She has a variety of roles within TIP – she is a certified National Trainer who has traveled to other TIP affiliates to train and present on “emotional first aid.” Jocelyn devotes multiple weekends every year to be a “volunteer crisis team manager” providing coverage for staff members and allowing them time for self-care. The Trauma Intervention Program NW (TIP) is a non-profit organization of specially training citizen volunteers who respond to traumatic incidents and citizens in crisis. TIP volunteers are requested on scene by Law Enforcement/Fire/Paramedic/Medical Examiners to provide immediate trauma informed, emotional and practical support to those affected by a crisis.
**Information provided by official FBI Press Release**