Pictured are, left to right, Chief of Police Neal Holste, Sergeant Emelike Delancy and Hood River County District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen at the April 4 Oregon Multi-Disciplinary Task Force Conference. Photo courtesy Hood River Police Department
Pictured are, left to right, Chief of Police Neal Holste, Sergeant Emelike Delancy and Hood River County District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen at the April 4 Oregon Multi-Disciplinary Task Force Conference. Photo courtesy Hood River Police Department
HOOD RIVER — Hood River City Police Department (HRPD) was recognized as the 2023 DUII Law Enforcement Agency of the Year at the Oregon Multi-Disciplinary Task Force Conference April 4. Police Chief Neal Holste and other members of the HRPD were in attendance to receive the award.
HRPD was nominated by the Hood River County District Attorney’s Office. In their nomination letter, the DA’s office highlighted the quality of work HRPD officers perform, citing their “diligence, thoroughness, and excellence in their DUII investigations.” The Task Force selects recipients based criteria including quality of work, impact within the community, education, prevention, and deterrence to determine which agencies have met and exceeded standards.
On the same night, HRPD Sergeant Emelike Delancy was recognized as Oregon’s 2023 Drug Recognition Expert of the Year. Out of the almost one million law enforcement officers nationwide, only 1.1% hold the certification as a Drug Recognition Expert. This is Delancy’s second award by the Task Force in the arena of impaired driving; previously, Delancy was awarded Oregon’s 2021 DUII Officers of the Year.
The Task Force recognizes the Drug Recognition Expert of the Year by selecting an expert who is active in using and sharing their expertise in detecting, apprehending, and assisting in prosecuting drug-impaired drivers in their community and state. The Drug Recognition Expert of the Year must possess the skills and desire to benefit their community, other law enforcement officials, schools, business, and the private industry.
“As a department, HRPD is committed to the prevention, deterrence, and educational aspects of impaired driving,” said a press release. “The department’s goal is to continue to keep the community informed through social media posts, in-person training, and speaking engagements, as well as having a visible presence through proactive enforcement.”
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