In a nod to their crucial efforts in the battle against drug trafficking, the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) has been bestowed the annual Law Enforcement and Agency Partner (LEAP) Award by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. This accolade is reserved for those whose service to civil and criminal cases is considered distinguished and marks a significant recognition for the teams on the front lines.

Tasked with a serious commitment to thoroughly tackle the fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin epidemic within Oregon, CCITF has not only seized substantial quantities of these drugs but has also been instrumental in bringing numerous federal cases to indictment, plea, and sentencing. Despite the inherent challenges this entailing work presents, their ability to significantly disrupt and dismantle operations is undeniably commendable.

The team leading this charge, CCITF, operates under the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and includes members from various law enforcement bodies including the Canby Police Department, Molalla Police Department, Oregon State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). According to information obtained from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, their operations are backed by the approval of the Public Safety Levy and grants from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.

The commendation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office highlights the importance of collaborative law enforcement initiatives, noting: “WIN and CCITF are responsible for dozens of federal cases that have been indicted, pled, and sentenced over the past year – cases involving defendants selling drugs to high school students, Honduran crews buying fentanyl from Sinaloa drug cartel sources operating out of Mexico and then distributing it throughout the Portland metro area, and the investigation and prosecution of multiple “Len Bias” cases involving overdose deaths resulting from the use of fentanyl. The number of defendants arrested and prosecuted, as well as the amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin these two teams have seized in the past year, is outstanding. Their joint efforts in tackling the crisis of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin within the community is to be commended.”  This recognition underscores the consistent and sustained effort by these teams to keep communities safe amidst a dire public health crisis.