In Memory of Detective Randy Nunnenkamp
Crash claims detective who fought child abuse
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Loses Beloved Member in Motorcycle Crash
Sgt. David Thompson
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Public Information Officer
On June 6, 2006, at about 4:30 PM Washington County Sheriff’s Detective Randall “Randy” Nunnenkamp was off duty riding his motorcycle in rural Yamhill County when he was stuck by an oncoming vehicle and died at the scene of the crash. Two other drivers involved in the three-vehicle crash were transported to area hospitals and are expected to survive.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of one its best, Detective Randy Nunnenkamp, who is known throughout the region as a tireless advocate for abused children. Detective Nunnenkamp started his career with the Sheriff's Office in 1989 after serving his county in the US Marine Corps.
Detective Nunnenkamp began his 17-year career at the Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, and later found his gentle manner and kind disposition well suited for teaching children drug resistance lessons while assigned to DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). Detective Nunnenkamp taught thousands of children the importance of staying away from drugs during his seven years with the DARE program.
Randy Nunnenkamp was promoted to the position of Detective in 2002. His expertise in dealing with children became well known, and consequently he was assigned to the child abuse team. Detective Nunnenkamp’s innovation and work ethic led him to pioneer a program to educate citizens about recognizing patterns of sex offenders. This program was a partnership with his wife Mary who works with the Washington County Commission on Children and Families. Together they educated thousands of teachers, clergy, and parents about the tell tale signs of sexual predator practices and child abuse recognition.
Detective Nunnenkamp served on both the State and County Child Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Teams. These are teams made up of people from different agencies, including law enforcement, prosecutors, juvenile councilors, and Department of Human Service workers who come together for the sole purpose of preventing, as well as prosecuting, child abuse crimes. Detective Nunnenkamp also instructed new police officers at the Oregon Police Academy.
This year, the Oregon Peace Officers Association recognized Detective Nunnenkamp with an award for “Outstanding Service in the Investigation of Crimes Against Children”.
Detective Nunnenkamp was an avid motorcycle rider and a member of the Blue Knights, a fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement officers who enjoy riding motorcycles. When they were not teaching people how to avoid child molesters Randy and Mary loved to ride together.
Detective Nunnenkamp is survived by his wife Mary, and three children.
To
carry on Randy’s passion for protecting children, Mary established the Randall
Lee Nunnenkamp Scholarship Foundation to provide support to Washington County’s
foster youth as they further their postsecondary education.
To learn more about the Foundation, please go to
rlnfoundation.org.