In a united front of remembrance and enforcement, various police agencies across Multnomah County, including the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Gresham Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, and the Oregon State Police, conducted a DUII Saturation Patrol to honor two reserve deputies who lost their lives 32 years ago. The deputies, Sgt. Scott Collins and Deputy Mark Whitehead, were fatally struck by an impaired driver in 1993, a somber memory prompting current efforts to curb such preventable tragedies. FlashAlert provided insights into the operation conducted last Friday, aimed at addressing impaired and fatal-5 driving behaviors.
As recounted by FlashAlert, family members of the fallen deputies spoke at the mission briefing, where Matthew Whitehead, Deputy Mark Whitehead's brother, expressed his gratitude: “The fact they want to do it — they remembered the ultimate sacrifice they gave serving their community." Dawn Collins, sister of Sgt. Scott Collins, acknowledged the proactive nature of the patrol efforts and their lifesaving potential, stating: “This saves lives. It saves not only the life of the person they might have hit, but it saves their life too.” The presence of these families underscored the ongoing impact that such losses have on the community and the importance of continued vigilance against impaired driving.
Participating officers from various agencies took to the streets with an aim towards aggressive enforcement of laws against dangerous driving behaviors, Sgt. Marc Hevern of the MCSO, himself a reserve deputy since 1997, maintained the importance of such collaborations saying “It’s always nice to work with partner agencies, we can have more impact with more officers out there patrolling" as he voiced in a statement made to FlashAlert.
The initial outcome of the patrol was detailed, revealing approximately 190 traffic stops conducted by the combined efforts of the agencies involved leading to eight DUII arrests, despite these efforts, officers also responded to a fatal crash attributed to impaired driving during the operation's timeline. Participation by the agencies also resulted in the apprehension of individuals on outstanding warrants, control substance possession, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle. While statistics are still being formulated by each participating agency, complete results are expected to be announced by the week's end; this was according to preliminary reports shared by FlashAlert.
