Employee Spotlight: Officer Connor Wells
Meet the newest officer at the Hood River Police Department, Officer Connor Wells. Officer Wells comes from a long line of orchardist families in the Hood River and Odell areas. His children are the 7th generation of his family born here, and this is where he wants to stay.
Wells joined the Hood River Police Department in April of 2024. After spending the first six weeks training on patrol in Hood River, he then gained further training at the Police Academy in Salem. He believes that his initial training in Hood River prepared him well for success at the Academy. As he is learning the ins and outs of being a police officer, Officer Wells has discovered that there can often be many solutions or approaches to different situations. Each new approach adds to his toolkit, allowing him to effectively perform his duties while remaining true to himself.
Wells considers himself a people person who enjoys working with and connecting with people. He views his role as an opportunity to help others. “While I might be wearing all of this equipment, I see it as a vehicle for me to be able to go out and help people a lot more readily,” he said. His experience so far has reinforced his belief that this is the ideal professional career for him, and that Hood River is the perfect place for him to work.
While he didn’t always know he wanted to become a Police Officer, his previous experiences contributed to his interest in law enforcement. Shortly after graduating High School, Wells joined the Oregon Army National Guard, where he advanced to the position of Staff Sargeant. While serving, he had the opportunity to train with the Oregon State Police, giving him a taste of law enforcement. During his time with the National Guard, which also included a deployment, he also worked for Columbia Area Transit, which operates the CAT bus.
After completing the Police Academy and returning to serve as an officer, Wells is looking forward to spending more time with his family. Having missed out on time with his young children due to deployments and academy training, he is excited to be rooted in one place. In addition to family time, Wells is eager to spend his free time snowboarding on the mountain, a hobby he picked up to cope with stress after returning from deployment, and now brings him joy. Please welcome Officer Wells to the City of Hood River!
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