William “Scott” Koertje (Redmond ’76)
Posted: July 27, 2026
Scott was born on May 20, 1956, in Frankfurt, Germany, to Howard and Sandra Koertje. He passed away on July 7, 2026.
Scott grew up in the Klamath Falls, OR, basin and graduated from Bonanza HS in 1974. Scott’s upbringing shaped a curious mind, strong character, and an adventurous spirit. He built a life defined by hard work, integrity, and a deep love for family.
After serving as a smokejumper from 1976-1982, he spent more than 20 years in Oregon law enforcement. He served with the police department in Redmond and as chief of police in North Plains.
Following his retirement, Scott continued working, serving with the US Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). As a law-enforcement expert, Scott helped build professional policing and justice systems in Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Macedonia. His integrity, humility, and commitment to ethical leadership earned him the respect of his colleagues around the world. Scott’s many awards and commendations included the Jordan International Police Training Centre Medal for his efforts training Iraqi police; a letter of meritorious service from the commanding general of the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team for his service in Iraq; and multiple honors from Pakistani police academies and training centers.
After his passing, ICITAP director Gregory Ducot released a statement expressing his admiration for Scott. “Scott Koertje embodied the very best of public service,” Ducot wrote. “For more than two decades, he brought integrity, courage, humility, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening justice systems around the world. His career was defined not by titles or recognition, but by the people he mentored, the institutions he helped build, and the enduring partnerships he created across continents.”
