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Police say 30 sex providers under the age of 25 were offered trafficking victim services.

by Courtney Vaughn

A recently retired Portland police sergeant was arrested and charged with soliciting sex services during a recent human trafficking mission targeting prostitution around NE 82nd and NE Sandy Boulevard in outer Northeast Portland.

According to Portland Police Bureau, Christopher Kenagy, 52, was arrested November 15 for unlawful prostitution procurement activities, and later released on his own recognizance. He was among 27 people arrested for prostitution-related charges over the course of a two-month direct patrol effort from PPB’s Human Trafficking Unit. Police arrested four more people on additional charges during the mission and another three on unrelated charges.

As first reported by The Oregonian, Kenagy was a former PPB sergeant until his retirement in January.

Oregon’s Department of Safety Standards and Training records show Kenagy was hired by PPB in 1999 as an officer, then promoted to sergeant in 2012. 

Kenagy’s attorney appeared in court Tuesday on his behalf, entering not guilty pleas to one count of prostitution procurement and one count of attempting to commit a Class A misdemeanor. Kenagy’s next court date is scheduled for January 3.

Prior to being arrested for trying to buy sex, Kenagy amassed 16 parking infractions in Multnomah County over the course of his 25-year career as a cop.

In 2002, Kenagy fatally shot a 29-year-old man who was believed to be suicidal when he broke into a house and threatened to shoot the homeowners as they returned from a walk. Police say Anthony Utah-Zona Beck waved an air gun at them when they commanded him to drop the weapon. An autopsy revealed several self-inflicted stab wounds on Beck.

Kenagy was later awarded a police medal.

Sex trafficking prevalent in Portland

Police say they work with third-party organizations to try to help victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The Police Bureau partners with a nonprofit called Safety Compass, which offers advocacy services to anyone younger than 25 who’s been involved in trafficking and/or exploitation.

The scale of Portland’s sex trafficking scourge is significant. During the latest two-month mission, PPB reported roughly 30 people were offered assistance and resources through Safety Compass and the Bureau’s victim services unit.

From January 2023 to September 2024, PPB recorded 313 prostitution offenses within city limits.

“HTU cases are complex with several identified barriers such as repeated traumatic exposures, trauma bonds with traffickers, and fear of retaliation,” PPB stated in a news release about the trafficking crackdown and subsequent arrests. “The survivors in these cases are often reluctant to come forward, make a report, and/or continue through the criminal justice process.”