1-27-26 Commissioners Recognize Outstanding DCSO Staff And SAR Volunteer (Photo) - 01/27/26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2026
Commissioners Recognize Outstanding DCSO Staff and SAR Volunteer
(Douglas County, Ore.) Recently, Douglas County Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman, along with Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin and Douglas County Undersheriff Brad O’Dell had the opportunity to recognize several Douglas County Sheriff’s Office employees for recent state and local awards at a Board of Commissioners Business Meeting. Those honored included Civil Clerk Deanna Stone; Investigations Lieutenant Kelley Bean; Patrol Deputy Jake Littrell; and Search & Rescue Volunteer Lonnie Williams, each were recognized for their respective service above and beyond the call of duty.
“As the liaison Commissioner for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, it is my honor to recognize three County employees, and a Search & Rescue Volunteer who recently received commendations for their service. Three received 2025 Oregon State Sheriff’s Association’s Command Council Awards and one received a special award from Sheriff John Hanlin,” stated Commissioner Tim Freeman, Liaison Commissioner for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
In the Civil Service Category, DCSO Civil Clerk Deanna Stone received the Civil Support Staff of the Year Award from OSSA Command Council. In her nomination letter from DCSO to OSSA, Deanna was recognized for being the epitome of dedication, professionalism, and selfless service—qualities that have made her a true pillar within DCSO. Over the past year, Deanna has consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment and reliability. As the sole Civil Clerk for DCSO, she has not only excelled in her own responsibilities but has also been proactively cross-training in Records operations, becoming an even bigger asset to our division. Her daily contributions—answering phones, providing break coverage, and stepping in wherever needed—are a testament to her outstanding teamwork and deep sense of duty. Beyond her exceptional work within the agency, Deanna is also a dedicated volunteer with Douglas County Search and Rescue (SAR). She holds both OSSA Basic Ground Search and OSSA K9 Wilderness Air Scent certifications, working alongside her K9 partner, Jazzy, to locate lost or missing persons. Over the past five years, Deanna has volunteered over 500 hours to SAR missions—responding not just within our county, but across regional requests through CORSAR. Her drive to volunteer is not by recognition, but by an unwavering commitment to serve and protect her community in every way she can. In every sense, Deanna Stone is the gold standard of civil support.
In the Enforcement Category, DCSO Lieutenant Kelley Bean received the Enforcement Commander of the Year Award from OSSA Command Council. In his nomination letter from DCSO to OSSA, Lt. Bean was recognized for demonstrating exceptional leadership in overseeing major criminal investigations, ensuring thorough case management and well-prepared files for the District Attorney’s Office. His administrative oversight and attention to detail have been instrumental in securing convictions in several high-profile cases, including the abduction and murder of 18-year-old Kendra Hanks. Lt. Kelley Bean has served DCSO with distinction since 1998 and has held numerous roles including Corrections and Patrol Deputy, DINT Detective, Patrol Corporal, Patrol Sergeant, and currently Investigations Lieutenant. He also holds a Management Certificate from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, reflecting his commitment to professional development and leadership excellence. Lt. Bean has shared his expertise by presenting at three separate conferences in Oregon and Washington, earning high praise for his ability to teach lessons learned and enhance the skills of fellow investigators. In addition to presenting at conferences, Lt. Bean has contributed to building the next generation of criminal justice professionals. During his time away from the Sheriff’s Office, he served as the Criminal Justice Program Coordinator at Umpqua Community College, where he guided students pursuing careers in law enforcement, fostering professional development and cultivating leadership skills in aspiring officers. Lt. Bean has also contributed significantly to other critical areas of the agency. He previously commanded the Crisis Negotiations Team, dedicating substantial time and effort to the program, and continues to serve as the agency’s Chief Firearms Instructor. Additionally, as a member of the Child Abuse MDT, he reviews all child abuse reports referred to DCSO by Child Welfare, further demonstrating his dedication to the community and the mission of the agency. In every aspect of his role, Lt. Bean demonstrates professionalism, expertise, and leadership that sets the standard for enforcement command.
In the Search & Rescue Category, Douglas County Search & Rescue Volunteer Lonnie Williams received the SAR Volunteer of the Year Award for Region 4 from OSSA Command Council. In his nomination letter from DCSO to OSSA, Lonnie was recognized for his unwavering dedication to the Douglas County SAR program and the fact that his valuable instruction of other members has made a lasting impact on our community. Lonnie has been a member of Douglas County Search and Rescue since January of 2009. In his 16 years of service Lonnie has volunteered more than 4,300 hours on rescues, searches, recoveries, training exercises, and community events. During his initial years with Douglas County SAR, Lonnie served as a member of the Ground and Mountain Rescue teams. As a support level member of the Mountain Rescue team Lonnie assisted in backcountry and alpine rescues as well as setting up haul systems and assisting with rope work for steep angle rescues and recoveries. Lonnie maintains his OSSA Basic Searcher Certification but has moved on the traditional “grunt” work and currently serves as a navigator for the 4x4 team, as Snowcat operator, and the Tracking team leader. In addition to monthly tracking team trainings Lonnie annually instructs a field training session, Introduction to Tracking & Crime Scene Considerations, for all SAR members to refresh and hone their skills. Tracking team members proudly comment on how Lonnie conducts his own research to further team knowledge of sign ageing by laying track in varying terrain and conditions and documenting the impact on sign over time. Lonnie helps to maintain a positive image of Douglas County SAR and educate younger generations by assisting at community events and arranging SAR presentations at church camps, youth shelters, and other youth organizations to ensure youth know basic outdoor survival safety skills and how to react if they were to become lost or be separated from their group while recreating in rural or wilderness areas. Lonnie is a Vietnam War Veteran who served with distinction in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, “The Black Horse”, in Cambodia. Lonnie has used his knowledge from this experience in tandem with his tracking abilities to assist in searches for despondent or evasive subjects when other search techniques have not proven fruitful.
The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) was formed in 1916 to give a voice to Oregon's 36 elected Sheriffs and their staff as they strive to improve citizen and community safety on a daily basis. Each year OSSA’s command council recognizes individuals and Sheriff’s Departments around Oregon for outstanding performance and duty. The OSSA Command Council Awards are based on nominations submitted by Sheriff’s Offices throughout the state. The winners of these awards are selected by the members of the respective Command Councils. The award categories include Civil, Emergency Management, Enforcement, Jail, Parole & Probation, and Search & Rescue.
In addition to the statewide OSSA Command Council Awards, Sheriff John Hanlin presented Patrol Deputy Jake Littrell with a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Lifesaving Award for his heroic actions during a water rescue on November 22, 2025, at Tahkenitch Lake. Tahkenitch Lake, at 2,118 acres, is one of the larger lakes along the Oregon coast. It is fed by runoff from a basin of about 34 square miles; it is located east of Hwy 101 in Douglas County between Florence and Reedsport. DCSO Deputy Littrell responded to an overturned boat and located an individual still in the water, exhausted and without a life jacket. Acting quickly and without immediate assistance, he used a paddle boat to reach the individual, while in full duty gear, to bring them safely to shore. His decisive actions prevented a likely drowning and demonstrated courage, sound judgment, and dedication to preserving life. Deputy Littrell was hired by DCSO in August of 2020. He currently serves as a DCSO Patrol Deputy along Douglas County’s coastal region and has served as a Patrol Deputy during his 5 plus year career with DCSO. Thank you, Deputy Littrell, for your service, duty, and dedication to Douglas County and our citizens.
“We are obviously very proud of these employees for the work they have done. The recognition that these folks received at the Oregon State Sheriff’s Conference is great, but the recognition doesn’t compare to the recognition they get when they come home and they get recognized by our own local leadership and citizens that we serve,” remarked Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountupr.gov
Assets Attached. Photo: K.Rodriguez/Douglas County
Photos:
- Commissioners, Sheriff and Undersheriff with Civil Clerk Deanna Stone
- Commissioners, Sheriff and Undersheriff with Lieutenant Kelley Bean
- Commissioners, Sheriff and Undersheriff with SAR Volunteer Lonnie Williams
- Commissioners, Sheriff and Undersheriff with Deputy Jake Littrell
