Article   ·   October 15, 2025

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management extends our deepest condolences on the unexpected passing of Clackamas County 911 Executive Director Cheryl Bledsoe

Cheryl was a dedicated leader, innovator, and advocate for Oregon’s 9-1-1 community. Our State 9-1-1 Program Section had the privilege of working closely with her over the years, witnessing her extraordinary commitment to advancing emergency communications and public safety.

Her contributions to the 9-1-1 profession and beyond are profound:
• Served for multiple years as Chair of the State 9-1-1 Advisory Committee
• Participated in numerous statewide workgroups to advance operational and technological policy for Oregon’s 9-1-1 system
• Named Oregon APCO/NENA Chapter Manager of the Year (2020)
• Served as Secretary for the Oregon APCO/NENA Chapter (2015–2016)
• Recognized as a Top Government Leader in Social Media by Government Social Media (2015)
• Honored with the Washington State University Woman of Distinction Award (2012)
• Named a Vancouver Business Journal “Accomplished and Under 40” Award recipient (2010)
• Awarded the George G. Marshall Public Leadership Award by the Fort Vancouver Historic Trust (2008)
• Recognized as an Agency Semi-Finalist for Innovation in Government by the Harvard Kennedy School (2003)

Cheryl’s light endures in the lives she touched, the communities she strengthened, and the countless acts of service she inspired.

Our hearts are with Cheryl’s family, her colleagues, and the entire Clackamas 911 – CCOM team.

It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to lead collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters regardless of cause. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_PublicInfo@oem.oregon.gov. We accept all relay calls, or you can dial 711.

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