Police Chief
David Frisendahl
Chief David Frisendahl has over 28 years of police experience. He spent almost 4 years as a police officer in Oakridge and 25 years with the City of Tigard where he served as a Field Training Officer, Detective, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Force on Force Instructor, and Motor Officer. While in the City of Tigard, David spent 4 years as a Sergeant and 5 years as a Lieutenant before he retired. He has an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Chemeketa Community College. Since retirement, David has continued his involvement in law enforcement by teaching survival skills at DPSST and has lived in the local area for nearly ten years.
Police Captain
Gwen Johns
Captain Gwen Johns began with the Stayton Police Department in May 2020. While earning a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Western Oregon University, Captain Johns began her career in Marion County, gaining training and experience working with Marion County Parole and Probation. She served as a police officer for the cities of Newberg and Dundee for 26-1/2 years. During her years with NDPD, she was a Field Training Officer, D.A.R.E. officer, Emergency Vehicle Operator Instructor, Training Coordinator, Deputy Medical Examiner, FTEP coordinator, ran a local youth safety camp (Safety Town), and served on the agency's honor guard. Captain Johns served as a Sergeant for NDPD for 16 years. Since 2008, she's been a driving instructor at DPSST, Oregon's police academy. Additionally, she has been a volunteer with Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and the Special Olympics of Oregon since 1995, and volunteering a week each summer as a youth camp counselor at Camp Rosenbaum since 2003.