Jerry Gaidos was hired in 1975 as a patrol deputy by Washington County.   In 1981 he became a patrol officer with the Portland Police Bureau.   Jerry's patrol experience included the usual vehicle patrol as well as walking a beat, bicycle patrol and mounted patrol.   He also did short assignments in the Juvenile Unit and Training Division.   In 1996, Jerry was promoted to Criminalist and processed crime scenes for evidence until retirement.   He is quick to tell you that he retired while he was still having a good time.

Jerry is bagpiper and Chaplain with the Portland Police Highland Guard, a ceremonial band with the mission of honoring public safety personnel.   Jerry has been married to Roxie for 37 years.   They have two sons. One is a 911 supervisor and one is a Multnomah County Corrections Deputy.

Jerry retired from the Bureau in June of 2004.   Three weeks later he became the Astoria Police Chaplain.   Since then, the Chaplaincy has grown to include all of the police agencies in Clatsop County except OSP.

Jerry would say, "It was a God thing."   On the day he retired an Astoria sergeant was forced to kill a subject. This is the only recorded shooting by an Astoria officer.   Through a series of events that only God could orchestrate, Jerry was able to participate in the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.   As a result of his involvement in the debriefing, Astoria Chief, Rob Deu Pree extended to him an offer to be the Chaplain.