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. 

Sgt. Stevens joined MCSO in 2022 after serving with the Gresham Police Department for over 11 years. Over the course of his 14-year law enforcement career, Sgt. Stevens has taken more than 700 impaired drivers off roads in Multnomah County. 

DUII and traffic stops can be painstaking and time consuming, however, they are one of the most prevalent crimes in our community and the impact of these crimes destroy families and cause lasting consequences. There were 19 DUII crash-related fatalities in Multnomah County in 2024, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

As a member of the East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT), a specialty team comprised of members from both MCSO and GPD, Sgt. Stevens shares his skills and knowledge far beyond our agency’s patrol division. VCT members respond to fatal and extremely serious crashes across jurisdictions. 

In addition to being DRE-certified, Sgt. Stevens is a Traffic Crash Reconstructionist (TCR). In this role, he reviews crash-related roadway evidence and provides opinions on vehicle speed and contributing factors.  

Sgt. Stevens graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2018, and in 2022, he received a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in Global Leadership and Human Resources. 

 A 20-year military veteran, Sgt. Stevens served three international deployments (Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo). He demonstrated his commitment to engaging other law enforcement members in the vital work of DUII enforcement while in Kosovo. During his deployment, Sgt. Stevens conducted three Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) refresher classes for Oregon troopers, officers and deputies. 

In 2024, Sgt. Stevens received the prestigious Maria Mignano Dedication to Duty Award, presented by the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force. This award is bestowed upon a sworn law enforcement officer who exemplifies dedication and professionalism in all aspects of impaired driving detection, apprehension, and prosecution. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) named Sgt. Stevens “Traffic Officer of the Year” in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, while a Gresham Police officer. In 2023, he earned the MCSO Sheriff’s Award in recognition of his commitment to community safety and to the professional development of his peers. 

Sgt. Steven’s career is defined by public service and commitment to excellence. His mission is to ensure every DUII investigation meets the legal standards required to hold impaired drivers accountable, directly impacting safety and livability across Multnomah County.