St. Helens Police Association

10/12/2026

Below you will find a letter from the St. Helens Police Association’s attorney, Daniel Thenell, regarding recent statements and claims from Steven Toschi.

10/11/2026

As conversations surrounding the proposed police levy continue, we want to take a moment to express our appreciation for the community we are so proud to serve. We are beyond grateful for our citizens.

We recognize that this is an important decision, and ultimately, that decision belongs to you, the voters.

We appreciate the thoughtful questions, conversations, and engagement we’ve seen from community members on both sides of the aisle. Your willingness to ask questions, seek information, and take an active role in the future of our city reflects the strength of our community.

Regardless of where you stand on the levy, we value your voice, respect your perspective, and remain committed to serving our community with complete dedication.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you, and thank you for being part of the conversation.

-St. Helens Police Association

10/10/2026

Good morning! Today at 12:00, please join us in attending a presentation and Q&A with Association President Coy and Sergeant Gaston at the Columbia Center (St. Helens Library). This event will cover the topics of Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health and City Impacts.

We hope to see you there!

10/06/2026

Former McBride PTO President Sentenced in Theft Investigation

ST. HELENS, OR – On Monday, October 5, 2026, Kalena Loomis, 43, of St. Helens, was sentenced in Columbia County Circuit Court to 20 days in jail related to an Aggravated Theft investigation that began in April 2026.

In April, St. Helens officers received a report that Loomis, then the McBride Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President, had allegedly misappropriated thousands of dollars in funds that were donated to the organization. Detectives immediately began an investigation and discovered $34,158.94 in suspicious transactions. These transactions included charges to Apple, Venmo transfers to family members, and multiple cash withdrawals from ATMs.

The case was presented to a Columbia County Grand Jury which resulted in Loomis' indictment for Aggravated Theft I.

In addition to a sentence of 20 days of jail, Loomis will be placed on formal probation for 24 months and will not be allowed to act as a board member with access to bank accounts of an organization. She will not be allowed to have contact with the McBride PTO and is required to immediately pay $15,000 in restitution to the McBride PTO. Loomis will be required to make monthly payments of $1,000 per month in addition to the restitution. Loomis was also assessed $3,125 in interest that must be paid to the McBride PTO as part of her restitution agreement.

Investigators continue to seek information about Loomis. If you have information, please contact St. Helens Police Chief Smith by calling 503-397-1521.

This case was prosecuted by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

10/06/2026

Please take a look! A little insight into Measure 5-312.

10/03/2026

This will be our last Officer introduction for a while!

Please say hello to Officer Anderson!

Officer Anderson has served the citizens of St. Helens with compassion and selfless work since the day he was hired. We are proud of his hard work and dedication to this city!

Bio:

- Education: High school graduate, DPSST Basic Police Academy graduate, currently pursuing an associate's degree.

- Previous jobs: U.S. Marine Corps (4 years), five years in the private sector, a year at Intel, then joined law enforcement in 2023.

- Grew up in Vernonia, Oregon.

- Sports/extracurriculars: Powerlifting.

Q&A

- Pineapple on pizza: No strong feelings. I'll eat whatever's in the break room 🍔

- Favorite thing about St. Helens: The waterfront and the community 🌊

- Favorite thing about the job: Helping people on their worst days — and no two days are ever the same.

- Favorite hobby outside of work: Gardening 🧑‍🌾 and physical fitness 💪🏼

- Interesting thing about me: I'm a powerlifting cop who likes to garden 🪴

- Favorite crime to investigate: I don't have a favorite — but I enjoy complex scenes where I get to piece together what happened 🕵️‍♂️

09/26/2026

Please say hello to one of our newer Officers, Jacob Molano! 👮‍♂️ 🚔

Jacob was hired by the St. Helens Police Department earlier this year and has graduated field training in recent months. He has become a stellar addition to our department and has served our citizens selflessly and diligently.

Here are a few fun facts about Officer Molano:

🎓 Previous education: “I graduated from Siuslaw high school in 2016. I graduated the Department of public safety and standards police academy and have completed many extra trainings.”

💼 Previous jobs: “I started in security before i transitioned to law enforcement. I started as a patrol officer with the Reedsport Police Department in 2022 and spent lots of time patrolling the town before I was accepted for the position of School Resource Officer. I couldent be happier to have transferred to St. Helens Police Department where I’m excited to be back patrolling the road and part of this community.”

📍 Hometown: “I grew up in the small costal town of Florence, Oregon.”

🏈 Favorite sports: “Growing up I played sports that consisted of football, wrestling, and golf.”

🍕 Pineapple on pizza: “Yes! Specifically BBQ chicken with pineapple.” (This answer caused a response of “gross” from the Association President).

🌊 Favorite thing about St. Helens: “St. Helens has quickly become a home for my family. We enjoy spending our time on the Columbia river and it has become one of our favorite things to do.”

🎸 Fun fact: “I enjoy playing my guitar and camping/swimming with my family.”

Favorite cases to investigate: “Person crimes such as assaults, robberies. These crimes leave big impacts and a tremendous amount of trauma on their victims. It is our job as peace officers to ensure everyone feels safe in the community.”

Favorite thing about the job? “I like that the job requires meticulous attention to detail and often requires thinking outside the box or puzzle solving.”

09/26/2026

Please share your opinion on the upcoming Police levy!

Try this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CL7Z7ZG

(Link in the comments as well)

ST. HELENS VOTERS, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The November 3, 2026 election is coming up, and we are asking St. Helens residents to take a few minutes to complete our Anoymous voter survey.

Scan the Anonymous Survey QR code and share your thoughts about the upcoming local election. No names are required. We want to hear directly from our community.

Want to learn more before answering the survey or casting your ballot? We have also included a second QR code for the official Columbia County Voters’ Pamphlet, where you can review information about the St. Helens candidates and Measure 5 312.

TAKE THE SURVEY. READ THE INFORMATION. MAKE YOUR OWN INFORMED DECISION.

Please share this post so we can hear from as many St. Helens voters as possible.

09/22/2026

Please take a glance at the event calendar for Measure 5-312! Each event is a great opportunity to understand the measure, its impacts, and have your questions and concerns answered.

Thank you!

09/17/2026

Please feel free to attend this informational session regarding crime statistics for our city! Bring your questions and get an inside look at what your Officers do day to day!