Oregon Chapter
Events
Mon, Jun 08WCSO Public Safety Training CenterDon't miss out on this FREE Public Safety UAS training event hosted by the LEDA Oregon Chapter at the Washington County Sheriff's Office public safety training center.
Leadership
Mike Amend
LEDA Instructor | LEDA Steering Team Member | LEDA Oregon State Chapter President
Mike Amend is a Lieutenant with the Gresham Police Department (Oregon) and currently supervises the department's UAS program. Mike started his career with Gresham in 1997. Since that time, he has been assigned to the Tri-Met Police Division, Tri-Met Crimes Response Team, and as a K9 Handler. Mike was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2005, where he supervised the K9 unit, Police Reserves, Police Cadets, Citizen Volunteers in Policing, Police Fleet, Tri-Met Police East Division, Detective Sergeant, Neighborhood Enforcement Team, and Executive Officer to the Chief of Police.
Mike began supervising the UAS team in 2021 which currently consists of 15 pilots, 18 drones, three UAS vehicles, and a joint Drones as First Responders program with the Portland Police Bureau. Mike's new assignment will be to develop the department's first Real Time Information Center to work in conjunction with its DFR program.
Clinton Franklin
LEDA Oregon Chapter Vice President
Clinton Franklin has been an Officer with the Gresham Police Department in Oregon since 2012. Clinton has been a member of the department's UAS team since 2019 when it was created by Jon Beal. He is currently assigned as a full-time Training Officer with the department. His other roles include Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, First Aid/CPR Instructor, Department UAS Instructor, Peer Support Member, and former Vehicular Crimes Team Member.
Thomas Roten
LEDA Oregon Chapter Secretary
Thomas Roten has served with the Albany Police Department since 2017, bringing a strong commitment to public safety. As a certified drone operator for over five years, Officer Roten has developed significant expertise in unmanned aerial systems and their application in law enforcement operations.
In addition to patrol duties, Officer Roten serves as a Field Training Officer, Survival Skills Instructor, Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVO) Instructor, and the President of the Albany Police Benevolent Association. Officer Roten serves the law enforcement community as the Secretary of the Oregon Chapter of the Law Enforcement Drone Association.
Brian Keetle
LEDA Oregon Chapter Treasurer
Brian Keetle is a Sergeant with the Springfield Police Department and currently supervises the department’s UAS program, as well as the K-9 Unit. He started his career with Springfield in 2004. He spent most of his time as a K-9 handler working multiple dogs over his career, but also has served as a Field Training Officer and spent several years on the Major Accident Investigations Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2020 taking over the MAIT team and Reserve Officer Program, and spent time in the Professional Standards Division as the Training Sergeant. He developed the Police Department’s UAS program in 2022 which eventually merged with the Eugene Police Department forming the current Eugene-Springfield Metro Drone Team.