President's Welcome Message

It is my pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the membership to the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) website and associated resources. We invite you to view the OACP sponsored programs and suggested links. Please contact us directly if the information you seek is not readily identified or accessible. If this is your first time visiting the site, perhaps the remainder of this message will provide a fundamental understanding of the OACP.

Founded in 1953 by a small group of Oregon police chiefs with the desire and vision to enhance communication and training throughout the Oregon law enforcement community, the OACP has evolved into the most diverse non-profit consortium of managers in the State of Oregon who through the administration of law enforcement encourage the adherence of all police officers to the highest professional standards of conduct and performance. The OACP's membership includes 511 active, associate, honorary, life and retired members representing cities, special districts, state, railroad, tribal and federal law enforcement entities serving Oregon.

Most of the OACP's activities are derived from legislative, training, labor, leadership and professional standard(s) issues. All of the aforementioned area(s) of concern are assigned to committees to be vetted by Association members before being presented to the membership, Board of Directors and/or Executive Board. Members are also assigned to a number of discipline specific committees at the request of state agencies and/or appointed by the Governor. Due to the OACP's 501c3 status, the OACP is committed to community action and scholarship management. The OACP typically donates several thousand dollars annually to the Oregon Special Olympics, other non-profit organization(s), college students and cities that cannot afford to send their respective administrator(s) to training.

Over this next year, the Association and its membership will be preparing for the upcoming Legislative session, which in and of itself will be a fairly daunting task considering the unprecedented deficit the State of Oregon is facing. The Association will continue to engage in ongoing self-assessment exercises in order to ensure our actions; the services we provide and our internal accountability are contemporary and appropriate. Most importantly, the Association will continue prioritize the enhancement of safety in/around Oregon communities.

Author and family therapist, Edwin H. Friedman was quoted as saying, "Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future." Friedman's words not only describe my intentions as the OACP President elect, but potentially serve as a strategic planning benchmark for the Association. I believe that progress is predicated on being mindful of the past while being driven by the constant pursuit of what is right as we move forward. With that said, I also believe it is incumbent upon the current membership to look to the future with a purpose. Therefore, my personal challenge to the entire membership is to get involved, seek answers and propose viable solutions.

Respectfully,

Stuart A. Roberts
Chief of Police, Pendleton Police Department
President, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police