About Us

Matt English, Hood River County Sheriff, President

Sheriff English was raised in Sherman County in the Columbia River Gorge. He graduated from Sherman Union High School and went on to attend Southern Oregon University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science.

In 1998, English started his law enforcement career with Hood River County Community Corrections as a parole and probation officer. In 2000, he transferred to the Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy. Matt was assigned to investigations in 2009 where he worked as a detective investigating major crimes. During his tenure at the Sheriff’s Office English served as a Training Instructor, Traffic Grant Project Coordinator, Public Information Officer and as a Part-Time Instructor at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. 

In 2012, English was elected as Hood River County’s 9th Sheriff and started his first term on January 7, 2013. He was subsequently re-elected in 2016 and 2020 and is in his third term.  Sheriff English was the 2018 President of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) and the 2020 Oregon Sheriff of the Year.  He currently serves on more than a dozen boards and committees at the state, regional and local levels.  Matt and his wife Robbie live in Parkdale and have twin adult children. Matt has been active in the Hood River Valley, volunteering in the schools, coaching little league and community ed basketball.

Ken Whiteman

Ken Whiteman is a 15 year Gorge resident with a history and passion for entrepreneurship. Holding degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics, and coming from a high tech background, Ken has started and grown several successful Oregon companies, including pFriem Family Brewers. He has developed deep connections within the business community of Hood River and has a passion for economic development in the Columbia River Gorge. Ken is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves to mountain bike, kiteboard, ski, mountaineer, fly fish, backpack, surf and travel internationally. In addition to the Sheriff’s Foundation Board, Ken serves as President of Breweries in the Gorge, Vice President of the Oregon Brewers Guild, and has served on Governor's Workforce Investment Board, and the Hood River Urban Renewal Advisory Board.

Branden Buel, Vice President

As a financial advisor in Hood River with Edward Jones Investments, Branden values the personal relationships he has with his clients and community. He has participated on several non-profit boards that help to understand Hood River County's unique community needs. His family and him have lived in the area since 2012. His interests include enjoying time with family and friends in activities that the Columbia Gorge provides. He is excited about the opportunities that the Hood River County Sherriff's Foundation has with helping the community and continuing to improve on safety for the people that live in the area.

Coco Yackley, Secretary, Treasurer

Coco moved to the Columbia Gorge region in 1999 after purchasing the family-friendly Cooper Spur Ski area. She successfully revived the ski area and sold it to a neighboring business for continued operations. Outside of Cooper Spur, Coco has a long-standing professional passion in technology working for us - not the other way around. Through her 22 years at Intel, she directed the re-engineering of company operations in the areas of marketing, sales, customer support, supply chain and internal employee services. In 2011, she shifted her focus to healthcare as part of the start-up team for the Columbia Gorge Health Council. She led the first ever multi-county, multi-state Community Health Assessment which served as the foundation for bringing > $10M in grant funds into the region. Coco is currently retired and spends her free time skiing, hiking, and golfing.

Jaime Rivera

Jaime was born and raised in Hood River, OR and attended K-12 grades in Hood River (HRVHS class of 1999). After high school he earned an AAS in Forestry from Central Oregon Community College (Bend, OR) and later a BS in Human Development from Warner Pacific University (Portland, OR).

Rivera has enjoyed careers with the US Forest Service as a wildland fire-fighter, Hood River County School District as a Graduation Coach and Head Coach for the HRVHS Boys Soccer team. In 2021, Jaime was hired as the new Recreation Supervisor for the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District. Rivera has two children, Kieran and Tristan, and is married to wife Christina Rivera, who is a teacher at the Hood River County School District.

Liz Smith, Treasurer

Liz Smith was born and raised in Hood River, Oregon. She attended Mid Valley Elementary for her primary years before moving with her family to San Juan Los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico for middle school. Liz returned to the area to attend High School, where she graduated from Hood River Valley. Throughout High School she volunteered for the St. Francis House youth program, was an active member of St. Mary’s choir, and worked closely with the Early Childhood Development Program through HRVHS. After graduation she attended Columbia Gorge Community College and worked in the banking industry until 2016, when she relocated to Vancouver, Washington with her Husband Mike Smith.

Liz’s interest in law enforcement began in 2014 when she volunteered as a reserve officer for the Hood River Police Department. After leaving banking, Liz worked for several years in the dental industry, working up through numerous positions, helping to further solidify her value of teamwork. In 2021, Liz was hired by the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office as an Administrative Assistant in the Civil Division and as the agencies Evidence Technician. She has helped the Latinx community significantly within the Hood River County Courthouse by aiding with translation needs in various departments. Liz has attended multiple events and trainings to develop and refine her skills in her current position. 

After a brief hiatus, Liz’s dedication to serve her community brought her back to the law-enforcement profession. She feels like the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is home and thrives on opportunities to educate our public and participate in outreach events. Liz continues to be an active participant in local law enforcement and capitalizes on opportunities like the Hood River County Sheriff’s Foundation, to give back to the community she loves. 

Liz and Mike reside in The Dalles with their son Lucas, and in the fall of 2022 welcomed another child.  

Erick Haynie, Legal Counsel

I have lived in Hood River County nearly all my life.  It is a very special place, in terms of not just its physical beauty, but also its people and culture as well.  Our sense of community is especially strong here and has been through all my years.  Our various public safety partners, including in particular the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, are a source of community pride.  I have been proud to serve as pro bono (volunteer) legal counsel to the Foundation.

After graduating from HRV in 1992, I studied political science and music at the University of Portland, graduating in 1995. I received a law degree from Northwestern University (1998). Since 1998, I have practiced as a commercial trial lawyer throughout greater Oregon and Washington with an Am Law 100 law firm.

My wife, Katie, and I both grew up in Hood River.  We are privileged to be raising our family here. I’d love for my children, sixth-generation Hood River kids, to feel it is a special place to grow up and be raised.

I serve as a pro bono attorney for various local non-profits. I am also a house piano player for the Hood River Inn.  In the 1990s, I worked as a radio personality for KIHR/KCGB. I also enjoy soccer, running, and spending my weekends supporting gorge-area youth sports and arts from the sidelines. I am an active member of Covenant Hood River, a local church, and for whom I am a contributing piano and organ player.

I have also been proud to serve as a part Chair of the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Hood River Rotary Club.  I also serve on the Hood River City Council and various associated committees.