Thaddeus Routson

I started my career in law enforcement in the summer of 1994 with the Seaside Police Department as a police officer assistant (college student practicum). I spent two summers working with the Seaside Police Department learning the aspects of law enforcement. During this time I was bike patrol certified and spent time enforcing minor traffic violations and city ordinances.

After graduating from Western Oregon State College, I was offered a job for the Seaside Police Department. I started with Seaside Police Department in December of 1995 and attended the Basic Academy at DPSST in Monmouth April 1996. I worked as a police officer with the Seaside Police Department until July of 1997. I was offered a job with the Hood River Police Department in June of 1997 and left the Seaside Police Department to be closer to family. I accepted the job at Hood RIver Police Department in July 1997 and told the Chief that I was in the application process with the Oregon State Police. I worked with the Hood River Police Department until I was offered a job with the Oregon State Police. On March 1st 1998 I started my career with the Oregon State Police and was assigned to the Patrol Division at The Dalles Patrol Office. In 2001 The Dalles lead rangemaster was retiring and asked me if I would be interested in being a rangemaster. I attended the DPSST Instructor Development Course in September 2001. I assumed the lead rangemaster role at the end of 2001 and continued in that capicity until the end of 2022. I continued as a rangemaster in 2023 while helping with the transition of the new lead rangemaster. I was asked to assist with Recruit School firearms in 2002 and assisted in training recruits in the basic principles of firearms. I resigned from the Recruit School firearms cadre when OSP moved from Camp Rilea to DPSST in Salem. I assisted with the OSP Rifle program from about 2003 to 2008-09 when I stepped down for family reasons. My goal when applying with OSP was to work as a Fish and WIldlife Trooper. When a position opened in the Spring of 2013 I applied and was assigned to the Fish and WIldlife Division. In 2013 I successfully completed The Oregon State Marine Board Marine Law Enforcement Academy and the Drift Boat Operations Course. I served in the Fish and Wildlife Division until the end of May 2016. I requested a transfer back to the Patrol Division for family and personal reasons (worked to much on the river and woods and lost interest in my passion of hunting and fishing). I was a background investigator and field training officer.