Oregon City Optimist Club honors police for supporting youth

One of the purposes of an Optimist Club and Optimist International is to inspire respect for the law. With that goal in mind, Optimist International developed a program called - you guessed it -   Respect for Law.

The developers of the Respect for Law program envisioned Optimist Clubs as being a middleman, a group that connected children with first responders in order to give them a positive interaction with a police officer. Some programs were quite involved, including trips to a prison with a scared straight theme for children at risk of becoming repeat offenders. Other programs took a milder approach, taking students on field trips to the city, county, or state government buildings where the children would interact with police officers and lawmakers. Some would merely hold a breakfast or lunch where the officers and students would eat together and perhaps play a game.

Over the years, the Respect for Law program has become more of a recognition event, especially in the Pacific Northwest District. Among the Optimist Clubs that have Respect for Law programs are the Roseburg Optimist Club, the Gresham Optimist Club, and the Oregon City Optimist Club. All are major events for the respective clubs.

Please enjoy the photos shared by the Oregon City Optimist Club from its Respect for Law Meeting held June 11, 2019, and note, if you will, the line that says, "Thank you, Officer Plummer, for supporting the kids the way you do."

Yes, the Oregon City Optimist Club and Police Department are real friends of youth.

Beaverton Optimist Club honors Brittany Chandler with scholarship

Brittany Chandler receives the Dean Mitchell Public
Safety Scholarship from Marv Thompson,
Beaverton Optimist Club

The Beaverton Optimist Club had a busy day on Thursday, June 12, 2014. The first order of business was to honor Brittany Chandler as the recipient of the Dean Mitchell Public Safety Scholarship.

Dean Mitchell was a local businessman, former Optimist Club president and district lieutenant governor. As an Optimist, one of his favorite club projects was the Respect for Law program. After his death, his widow helped the Beaverton Optimist Club establish this annual scholarship designated for a student from the Beaverton area to pursue a career in public safety.

On hand to help make the presentation special was Sheriff Pat Garrett of the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

And rounding out the day with a little monkey business was a visitor from the Hillsboro Optimist Club. He came to fetch the club's gavel which President Wally Johnston had graciously hidden inside a bag of wood chips.

Rumor has it that the Beaverton Optimist Club's gavel is missing now!

See more pictures of the day on Facebook courtesy of Eric Squires. 

Oregon City Optimist Club honors the Oregon City Police

Oregon City Optimist Club honors
the Oregon City Police

Brian Shaw, President, Oregon City Optimist Club, wrote in today to share information about the club's Respect for Law program. He said that the club has been honoring officers for around 25 years. Usually held in early June, it rotates between the Oregon City Police Department and the Clackamas County Sheriff Department.

The 2014 event was held on June 10 and instead of honoring one individual as officer of the year, as is the norm, Oregon City's Police Chief Jim Band recognized the entire department. It was a tough year, with the tragic loss of an officer, and all pulled together to serve the community through their grief.

Thirteen officers were treated to breakfast with the Oregon City Optimist Club and were honored with the Optimist International Respect for Law plaque.

Thanks for sharing the story and pictures, Brian.

Breakfast with the officers

Presentation:
Respect for Law plaque

Roseburg Optimists honor those who protect and serve

We wrote about it in 2008 and then again in 2011. It's now 2013; another year has passed and the Roseburg Optimist Club has again hosted what may be considered their signature event: the Annual Respect for Law Banquet. 

This year marks the 38th time that the Roseburg Optimist Club has recognized the contribution that law enforcement agencies make to the well-being of the region in Southern Oregon.

In a touching salute, Douglas County Commissioner Susan Morgan explained for The Umpqua Post what it is like for law enforcement officers and their families. She says, "While we go about our busy lives, our skilled and dedicated law enforcement officers face each day not knowing exactly what will come their way, but knowing that they will likely find themselves in situations of anger, instability, violence, abuse, broken bodies, illegal drugs and despair.

Their families say good-bye to them as they leave the house each workday, knowing that this could be the day their loved ones don’t come home."

The column goes on ending with with a nod to the Roseburg Optimist Club for taking the time to recognize the extraordinary commitment to the community made by the individuals of the City of Winston Police Department, the City of Sutherlin Police Department, the City of Roseburg Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police

That's what being an Optimist Club member is all about: expecting, working for, and believing in the best and recognizing others who do the same. 

Kudos to the Roseburg Optimist Club, their community, and the law enforcement agencies and officers that protect and serve. 

Read Commissioner Morgan's full column here. 

Roseburg Optimist Club to honor law enforcement

The Roseburg Optimist Club is planning their 36th Annual Respect for Law Banquet. It will be held Friday, September 16, 6:00 p.m. at the Douglas County Fairgrounds with a keynote presentation by Oregon State Police Superintendent Chris Brown.

Click to listen.

Hear president-elect Peter Sudduth describe the event on the KQEN Morning Show.

You can join them! Tickets are $27 per person. Call to reserve your space today 541.430.3569.

Beaverton student awarded scholarship

The Beaverton Optimist Club observes Optimist International Respect for Law month by awarding a scholarship to a student who plans a career in law enforcement. 

Beaverton Optimist member Marv Thompson reports that the recipient of this year's Dean Mitchell Scholarship was Conner Gilfillan.  Conner plans to attend college at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri to major in criminal justice and minor in theology. He also hopes to play football for Culver-Stockton.  


According to Marv, Conner is a very qualified student who has participated in various activities during his high school career and has a long list of accomplishments.  He aspires to some day become a police officer and at retirement become a chaplain for a police agency.  

Conner is shown here with Marv Thompson (l) and President Bruce Buffington (r).