St. Helens Police Department Announces Service Award Recipients, Top Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2024

St. Helens, Ore. - The St. Helens Police Department has announced 2023 commendation awards recognizing St. Helens officers for their exemplary service, conduct, and life-saving efforts that went above and beyond the normal high standards of their positions. A St. Helens officer of the year has also been announced.

OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Patrol Officer Luke Marshall was selected as the St. Helens Police Department’s Officer of the Year. Officer Marshall is described by his peers as humble, hardworking, and proactive. He was recognized for his conduct on two separate occasions in 2023, with one incident involving a sexual assault in progress that he discovered on duty. Officer Marshall not only managed to conduct an outstanding investigation, but he also ensured that the victim received emergency medical treatment. Officer Marshall’s professionalism and dedication reflect the St. Helens Police Department’s continued commitment to providing the best possible police service to our community.

OFFICER COMMENDATIONS

In addition to officer of the year, the St. Helens Police Department has awarded multiple commendations to officers for extraordinary accomplishments in 2023. Commendations are given to recognize exemplary officer conduct that goes beyond the high level of professional conduct expected of employees of the St. Helens Police Department. A Commendations Board reviews and approves the recommendations for commendation. The St. Helens lieutenant oversees the board and additional members include one sergeant and three officers. Department members take turns serving on the Board.

Life Saving Award

The Life Saving Award is given to an officer for an extraordinary act or effort that resulted in the saving of a human life or lives that would have died without the officer’s direct involvement. This may include a situation involving more than routine first aid, steadfast medical intervention, life threatening immediate emergency situations that an officer was not trained or equipped to handle, or heroic physical intervention.

Officers Jamin Coy and Kolten Edwards in response to a citizen who was discovered unresponsive near the Columbia City walking trail. Officers administered Narcan and performed CPR, which resulted in the citizen being successfully transported to the hospital. 

Sergeant Jon Eggers and Officer Matthew Molden in response to a citizen who suffered a medical emergency at their residence. Officer Molden performed CPR while Sergeant Eggers successfully deployed an AED. The citizen was successfully transported to the hospital.

Officers Jamin Coy, Jonathon Anderson, and Jeremy Howell in response to a citizen who reported their 4-year-old child was trapped underneath a large toolbox with severe injuries. Officers arrived, provided direct emergency medical assistance, and the child was successfully transported to the hospital. The child made a complete recovery.

Exemplary Service Award

The Exemplary Service Award is presented to an individual or unit for a singular accomplishment of substance without risk to personal safety but under adverse and difficult conditions.

Sergeants Jon Eggers and Matthew Smith and Officers Dylan Gaston, Kolten Edwards, and Luke Marshall in response to a shooting which occurred at the St. Helens McDonald’s.  Officers arrived and discovered that a suspect had nearly crashed into the victim while driving and then attempted to shoot the victim in the parking lot. Officers located and arrested the suspect and executed a search warrant on the suspect’s vehicle which resulted in the recovery of a firearm.

Sergeant Douglas Treat and Officer Luke Marshall in response to a sexual assault that was discovered in progress while on duty. Sergeant Treat and Officer Marshall were able to obtain statements from the victim and the suspect, and the suspect was arrested for a litany of sexual offenses. Sergeant Treat and Officer Marshall also ensured that the victim received emergency medical treatment.

Sergeants Jon Eggers and Matthew Smith and Officers Jamin Coy, Brandon Haflich, and Adam Hartless for a stalking investigation where a victim located four different GPS trackers hidden on her vehicle. Officers completed multiple search warrants for the tracking data, banking records, and the suspect’s residence. The suspect was indicted and arrested for a litany of charges.

Officers Johnathon Sprinzl and Adam Raethke for determining that a suspect, wanted for a shooting in a nearby jurisdiction, had relocated to St. Helens. Officer Raethke and Sprinzl developed a ruse which lured the suspect out from his residence and safely took him into custody without incident.

Community Service Award

This commendation is awarded to an individual member, or to a unit acting as a team, for rendering an extraordinary service to the community without risk to personal safety.

Sergeant Jon Eggers and Officers Bryan Cutright, Adam Raethke, Dylan Gaston, and Johnathon Sprinzl for their investigation regarding a suspect suspected of selling fentanyl in Columbia County. This investigation resulted in the seizure of 562 fentanyl pills, 27.3 grams of powder fentanyl, 9.2 grams of methamphetamine, and $1,863.36 in cash. The suspect was indicted by a Columbia County Grand Jury for a litany of charges related to this investigation.  The recovery of these dangerous drugs undoubtedly saved lives and was an enormous service to the St. Helens community. 

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For further information regarding this press release, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.