New officer takes the stage

By Terry Murry on Monday, March 18th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Police Department recently became fully staffed as two new officers graduated from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Police Academy in Salem. Police Chief Chuck Byram attended the graduation ceremony and found out he didn’t know all there was to know about one of the two.

“Officer Natalie Orchard has one heck of a singing voice, (which was) news to me,” Byram said. She sang the national anthem at her graduation down at DPSST and it was absolutely lovely. I was very impressed by that.”

Orchard and Officer Peter Josue graduated from the academy after 16 weeks of intensive training. They are now back in Pendleton. Byram says there are five new officers in various phases of field training following their academy graduations.

Photo of Officer Natalie Orchard and Officer Peter Josue via Pendleton Police Department