The Astoria Police Department is pleased to announce it has recently filled a new position called Community Resource Officer. The Community Resource Officer is a police officer whose responsibilities will be to focus specifically on concerns from both Astoria businesses and residents, related to community livability issues.  Some of those issues have been: abandoned shopping carts, derelict vehicles, camping, abandoned property, trash, public urination, and disorderly conduct.  The City of Astoria moved forward on support for this position based on the success that other cities have had when a specific officer was assigned to work on these complex issues.  The main focus of this position will be to address these concerns with a dedicated officer that will be able to be proactive, ensure continuity, and provide focus to the specific community concerns.

Senior Officer Kenny Hansen has been selected for this role.  The Community Service Officer will be partnering with a Clatsop Behavioral Health, Mobile Crisis Clinician, as part of this response.   Senior Officer Hansen has been with the Astoria Police Department for over 30 years and is a lifelong resident of Astoria.  He has served as the department’s liaison to Astoria’s unsheltered population since 2015.   

On March 10, 2022 a report was made to the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office about possible human skeletal remains that had been found on Lois Island.  This island is located in the Columbia River between Tongue Point and the John Day river outlet.

Detectives from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and Astoria Police Department, along with the Clatsop County Medical Examiner responded to investigate.  During the investigation it was determined that the remains were human, and had been in that location for some time.

The Oregon State Police Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the remains as those of  Maya Sanders, who was 29 years old when she was reported missing on March 12, 2019.

During the investigation of Ms. Sanders’ disappearance in 2019; it was determined that the last known location of Ms. Sanders was in the North Tongue Point area.  Lois Island is near Ms. Sanders’ last known location.  At this time there is nothing in the investigation to suggest that Ms. Sanders was a victim of criminal activity.

Additional information is linked below:

http://astoria.response.news/missing-person-investigation-update/