Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Kaiser has spent more than three decades helping people. It’s what he dreamed of as a child. 

“I’ve wanted to be a cop since I was five, when my uncle got pulled over on his motorcycle. I was riding with him, and I didn’t have a helmet on,” Deputy Kaiser said. “I remember my uncle being upset about the ticket and I thought, ‘How cool is that police officer!’” 

Out of roughly 6,000 law enforcement officers statewide, fewer than 200 hold Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certification.  

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Patrol Sergeant Chad Stevens holds an even rarer distinction as one of only a few DRE instructors in Oregon. 

DREs help identify impairment from substances such as inhalants and hallucinogens supporting safer roads and stronger Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) investigations. Their work is vital, as impaired drivers are a leading cause of death for law enforcement officers.