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Portland Bureau of Police
The patch of the PPB
The badge of the PPB
Common name	Portland Police Bureau
Abbreviation	PPB
Motto	"Sworn to Protect, Dedicated to Serve"
Agency overview
Formed	1870
Preceding agency	Portland Metropolitan Police Force
Annual budget	$262 million (2023)
Jurisdictional structure
Map of Portland Bureau of Police's jurisdiction
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Multnomah County Justice Center
Police Officers	800
Civilians	350
Agency executives	Bob Day, Chief of Police Chris Gjovik, Deputy Chief Craig Dobson, Assistant Chief of Operations Amanda McMillan, Assistant Chief of Investigations Chuck Lovell, Assistant Chief of Services
Facilities
Precincts	3 North Precinct Central Precinct East Precinct
Airplanes	3
Website
Official website Recruitment website

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officially the Portland Bureau of Police, is the law enforcement agency of the city of Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon.

The Bureau is the largest city law enforcement agency in Oregon. As of September 2024, the Bureau has around 800 sworn members, 35 cadets, and over 300 professional staff.

Prior to 2025, when Portland operated under a city commission form of government, oversight of Portland's bureaus shifted among the five City Commissioners, with the mayor being assigned to the Police Bureau as the police commissioner due to tradition. As of January 1, 2025, the chief of police acts as the primary executive of the agency.

History

From 1851 to 1870, Portland was policed by a town marshal. After 1861, the marshal was empowered to hire deputies, but they did not have permanent jobs until late in the 1860s. In 1970, the Portland City Council established the police bureau, originally called the Portland Metropolitan Police Force.

On April 1, 1908, the bureau became the first in the United States to hire a female police officer, Lola Baldwin, who became the Superintendent of its newly established Women's Protective Division

In 2011, the Department of Justice began an investigation into civil rights violations at the PPB. This resulted in the United States v. City of Portland settlement regarding their use of force.

PPB was involved in an ongoing series of protests beginning in May 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. The PPB were supplemented with federal agents deployed by President Donald Trump who have reportedly arrested rioters and antifa off the streets from unmarked police vehicles for detainment without reading Miranda Rights, providing cause, or identifying themselves. During these protestors, Mayor and police commissioner Ted Wheeler was tear gassed.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed a law exempting law enforcement officers from vaccine mandates due to pushback from officers and the Portland Police Association.

Organization and structure

Precincts

The Portland Police Bureau divides Portland into three precincts, with each precinct divided into as many as 20 districts. The divisions are generally based on neighborhood association boundaries, but also take into account the number of police calls generated in each district. The district serves as the basic unit of territory within the bureau, and most districts are assigned between one and two patrol officers. As such, busier districts are geographically smaller and slower districts are larger.

The infrastructure of each precinct is essentially the same, though the number of officers in each precinct is adjusted continually through transfers, new hires and attrition.

Rank Structure

Police officers receive the rank of officer immediately after hiring. Sometime after hiring, they go to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training police academy in Salem, followed by an "advanced academy" at PPB's training center in the Wilkes neighborhood. Depending on class space at the state academy, officers may perform limited, primarily administrative, police functions while waiting for the academy. Following training, officers have a 18-month probationary period with a field training officer.

After 4.5 years of service as a police officer, 3 of which must be at PPB, officers may take a promotional exam to become either a detective, sergeant, or criminalist.

Public Safety Support Specialists are unsworn and unarmed officers who respond to non-violent crimes to take reports. Police cadets are teenagers learning about policing. They assist with community events, traffic control, and learn leadership skills. It is similar to the Police Explorer program.

Title	Insignia	Badge
Chief of Police
Deputy Chief
Assistant Chief
Commander
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective or Criminalist	No Insignia
Police Officer
Probationary Police Officer
Public Safety Support Specialist		None
Cadet

Equipment

Vehicles

The PPB uses Ford Explorers for their marked vehicles. An older marked vehicle that is still in use is the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Traffic officers use BMW R1200RT motorcycles.

Firearms

All Portland police officers are armed with a 9mm Glock handgun, either the Glock 17, or the Glock 19. Plainclothes officers carry a Glock 26. Most uniformed officers' handguns are equipped with SureFire or Streamlight tactical lights. Officers often carry a backup firearm that must conform to regulations regarding caliber and type.

All Portland Police Bureau officers are authorized to carry a Remington 870 shotgun (fitted with a tactical flashlight in the foregrip). After completion of bureau courses, officers are also authorized to carry Colt AR-15 rifles and FN 40mm single shot less-lethal launchers.

Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) officers are armed with a variety of additional weapons, including H&K MP5A3 submachine guns, and M4A1 rifles with EOTech holographic sights.

The .45 Glock 21 was once included in the list of handguns that could be used as a service pistol. However, after two incidents in which Glock 21s exploded in the hands of officers at a shooting range, the Bureau abandoned the Glock 21.

Non-lethal weapons

All uniformed officers carry pepper spray, the ASP expandable baton and a Taser.

Portland Police Bureau has a LRAD "sound cannon".

Body cameras

In 2014, PPB began exploring the idea of issuing body-worn cameras as part of a US Department of Justice lawsuit about unconstitutional use of force, United States v. City of Portland. After years of negotiations on body-camera policies, On June 17, 2024, PPB officers in the Central Precinct were outfitted with cameras as part of a pilot-program. In August of that year, all officers were outfitted with the cameras. Portland had been the largest city without police body cameras.

Portland Police Association

Most of the bureau's rank-and-file employees are represented by the Portland Police Association union. The union also represents 911 call takers and dispatchers, who work for the Bureau of Emergency Communication.

On July 1, 2020, the city and the PPA renewed its annual contract, with an agreement to permit a newly formed Portland Street Response team, promoted by Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, for emergency situations that don't require firearms, and an agreement on the delay of cost-of-living adjustment due to city budget issues related to COVID-19. This contract was extended against a backdrop of continuing George Floyd protests, some of them at PPA headquarters.

On February 24, 2022, the City and the PPA signed a new collective bargaining agreement that will expire on June 30, 2026. Members will see between a 14% to 25% pay increase, not including $7,000 in retention bonuses and bilingual incentive pay, in this contract. The agreement also contains a new discipline guide and allows for the expansion of the Portland Street Response team, which dispatches a mental health clinician and fire paramedic to crisis calls.

Popular culture

• The 2011-2017 NBC drama Grimm starring David Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby follows a Portland Police Detective who fights mythological creatures. Multiple characters on the show are members of the PPB.
• The 2015 Fox series Backstrom follows a team of 'eccentric criminologists' in the PPB led by an "overweight, offensive, irascible" commanding officer played by Rainn Wilson.
• The ABC show Stumptown follows a Portland-based private investigator played by Cobie Smulders who frequently works with officers from PPB.

Police Chiefs

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2013)

Source:

• James H. Lappeus (1st term November 1, 1870 – June 17, 1877)
• Lucerne Besser (June 18, 1877 – October 29, 1879)
• James H. Lappeus (2nd term October 30, 1879 – June 30, 1883)
• William H. Watkinds (July 18, 1883 – April 23, 1884)
• Samuel B. Parrish (April 24, 1884 – July 31, 1892)
• Ernest W. Spencer (August 1, 1892 – November 11, 1892)
• Charles H. Hunt (November 12, 1892 – July 31, 1894, and below)
• John W. Minto (August 1, 1894 – October 5, 1896)
• L. W. "Doc" Robertson (October 6, 1896 – March 10, 1897)
• John Myers (March 11, 1897 – June 8, 1897)
• Patrick J. Barry (June 9, 1897 – July 2, 1897)
• Michael J. Clohessy (July 3, 1897 – June 30, 1898)
• Daniel M. McLaughlin (July 1, 1898 – January 22, 1903)
• Charles H. Hunt (above and January 23, 1903 – July 14, 1905 ? 1906)
• Charles Critzmaucher (July 15, 1906 – July 1, 1909)
• A. M. Cox (July 2, 1909 – June 30, 1911)
• Enoch Glover (July 1, 1911 – June 30, 1913)
• John Clark (July 1, 1913 – July 31, 1917)
• Nelson F. Johnson (August 1, 1917 – November 7, 1919)
• Leon V. Jenkins (November 8, 1919 – June 30, 1933, and below)
• Burton K. Lawson (July 1, 1933 – November 30, 1934)
• Harry M. Niles (December 1, 1934 – June 30, 1946)
• Leon V. Jenkins (above and July 1, 1946 – January 5, 1948)
• James Fleming (January 6, 1948 – December 31, 1948)
• Charles P. Pray (January 1, 1949 – April 30, 1951)
• Donald I. McNamara (April 1, 1951 – January 2, 1953, and below)
• James W. Purcell Jr. (January 1, 1953 – January 1, 1957)
• William J. Hilbruner (January 1, 1957 – November 12, 1960)
• David H. Johnson (November 21, 1960 – July 8, 1964)
• Donald McNamara (acting Chief July 9–22, 1964. Chief July 23, 1964 – January 1974)
• Bruce R. Baker (January 15, 1974 – May 31, 1981)
• Ronald R. Still (June 1, 1981 – January 4, 1985)
• Gary M. Haynes (January 4, 1985 – January 23, 1985)
• Penny Harrington (January 24, 1985 – June 2, 1986)
• Robert M. Tobin (June 2, 1986 – August 20, 1986)
• James T. Davis (August 20, 1986 – April 7, 1987)
• Richard D. Walker (April 7, 1987 – November 18, 1990)
• Thomas J. Potter (November 19, 1990 – June 29, 1993)
• Charles A. Moose (June 29, 1993 – August 1999)
• Mark A. Kroeker (August 1999 – August 29, 2003)
• Derrick Foxworth (August 29, 2003 – June 2006)
• Rosie Sizer (June 22, 2006 – May 12, 2010, fired by Mayor Adams after holding a PPB press conference to criticize his funding decisions)
• Michael Reese (May 12, 2010 – January 2, 2015, retired)
• Larry O'Dea (January 2, 2015 – March 27, 2016, resigned after attempting to cover up an incident where he accidentally shot a friend while drunk on a hunting trip)
• Donna Henderson (Interim) (March 27, 2016 – June 27, 2016)
• Michael Marshman (June 27, 2016 – August 24, 2017)
• Chris Uehara (interim) (August 24, 2017 – October 2, 2017)
• Danielle Outlaw (October 2, 2017 – December 31, 2019)
• Jami Resch (December 31, 2019 – June 8, 2020)
• Chuck Lovell (June 8, 2020 – October 11, 2023)
• Bob Day (October 11, 2023 – Present)

See also

• Portland Police Bureau and the LGBT community
• List of law enforcement agencies in Oregon
• Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
• Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue

References

1. Bailey Jr, Everton (June 17, 2020). "Portland approves budget with millions in cuts to police, but short of public demand for $50 million reduction". The Oregonian.
2. ^ Precinct information from the PPB website
3. "Mayor Wheeler to maintain role as Portland police commissioner in 2021". kgw.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
4. "Portland City Marshals and Police Chiefs". Portland Police Museum.
5. O'Hara, Ralph. "The History of the Portland Police Bureau; A Look Back". Retrieved August 14, 2009.
6. Dickinson, Tim. "RS Reports: Progressive City, Brutal Police". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
7. July 19, Alex Zielinski •; Pm, 2020 at 12:49. "Portland Police Union Burns, Officers Assault Crowds During July 18 Protests". Portland Mercury. Retrieved July 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
8. Baker, Mike (July 23, 2020). "Federal Agents Envelop Portland Protest, and City's Mayor, in Tear Gas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
9. "Portland will not enforce citywide vaccine mandate on police force". opb. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
10. "Precinct and district map" (PDF). City of Portland. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
11. ^ "About PPB / Contact Info | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
12. ^ "FAQ". JOIN PPB. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
13. "Public Safety Support Specialists | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
14. "Cadets". JOIN PPB. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
15. "Portland Police Bureau Manual of Policy and Procedure". The City of Portland. January 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
16. "Possible Officer Safety Issue Related to Glock Model 21 Handguns". PoliceOne.com. March 30, 2004. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
17. Molly Harbarger (June 4, 2020). "Portland protest calls for 'nonviolent' resistance against police brutality Thursday; 12 arrested in overnight unrest". oregonlive. Retrieved June 5, 2020. Police said their sound truck "became a target of the group's aggression" as officers continued to disperse the crowd. They said lasers were shined at the driver and rocks and glass bottles were thrown at the truck.Police said they used a Long Range Acoustic Device twice "to defend themselves from these criminal and dangerous acts."According to a 2009 New York Times report, such devices are powerful speakers that can also emit a very loud, siren-like noise. The devices are known by their acronym, LRAD, and are referred to as "sound cannons."
18. "After years of delay, Portland police begin wearing body cameras on Monday". kgw.com. June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
19. Gebel, Meira (April 3, 2024). "Portland police will wear body cameras full time starting in June". Axios. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
20. Gebel, Meira (June 21, 2024). "Portland's police force will start wearing body cameras for first time". Axios. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
21. Ellis, Rebecca (July 1, 2020). "Portland Extends Police Contract with Union for One Year". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
22. "Portland's Chiefs of Police". Portland's Finest, Past & Present. Turner Publishing Company. 2000. p. 13. ISBN 1-56311-599-9. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
23. ^ "James H. Lappeus". Portland Police Museum & Historical Society. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
24. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 126, July 19, 1883, page 3, column 5
25. Daily Alta California, Volume 36, Number 12426, April 24, 1884, page 8, column 3
26. Marin Journal, Volume 37, Number 2, March 18, 1897, page 1, column 3
27. Charles Moose Sworn In as 15th Montgomery County Police Chief Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, an August 2, 1999, press release by Montgomery County, Maryland
28. Top Cop, a November 10, 2004, article from Willamette Week
29. Rob Manning. "Former Police Chief Foxworth Retires From The Force". opb.org. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
30. Portland's police chief replaced following scandal, a June 22, 2006, AP article via The Seattle Times
31. Technically, Rosie Sizer is still a Portland police chief a May 13, 2010, blog post from The Oregonian
32. Budnick, Nick (September 16, 2020). "Portland mayor admonishes police chief after public clash over tear gas". Portland Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
33. Bernstein, Maxine (October 8, 2014). "Portland Police Chief Mike Reese to retire after tenure marked by uneasy relationship with Mayor Charlie Hales". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
34. "Chief Larry O'Dea - Biography". portlandoregon.gov. April 1, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
35. Nigel Jaquiss (May 26, 2016). "Police Report Shows O'Dea Had Been Drinking When Shooting Incident Occurred". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
36. "Oregon Hunting and Hunting Related Accident Report 164068" (PDF). Willamette Week. April 21, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
37. "Murmurs: Civil Rights Director Erious Johnson Sues Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum". Willamette Week. October 26, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2020. Former Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea Indicted
38. Nigel Jaquiss (October 25, 2016). "Former Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea Indicted in Harney County". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
39. Nigel Jaquiss (June 29, 2016). "Meet Mike Marshman, Portland's New Chief of Police". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 17, 2020. O'Dea tainted the four assistant chiefs in line to succeed him by telling them about the shooting weeks before it became public. Because none of the four assistant chiefs referred the incident for investigation, they lost their chance for promotion.
40. Nigel Jaquiss (June 27, 2016). "Portland Police Union On O'Dea Resignation: Good Riddance". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
41. Beth Slovic (June 27, 2016). "Mayor Charlie Hales Blames "Trial by Media" for Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea's Departure". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 17, 2020. By picking Marshman, Hales made an unusual move. He skipped over O'Dea's top aides, including Mike Crebs, Bob Day, Kevin Modica and acting chief Donna Henderson, who are all under investigation by IPR for possibly violating bureau policies
42. Budnick, Nick (June 21, 2016). "Police chief's top aides under scrutiny". Portland Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2020. Why they are now under scrutiny remains unclear. It has been widely reported that O'Dea informed them, as well as Hales, of the shooting on April 25. Under city code, IPR was supposed to be notified, but was not.
43. Bernstein, Maxine (June 27, 2016). "Portland mayor appoints new police chief in wake of 'turmoil and confusion' over shooting scandal". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
44. Ford, Brad (August 24, 2017). "Chris Uehara Sworn In As Interim Chief". iHeart. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
45. Bernstein, Maxine (October 2, 2017). "Portland's new police chief reports for duty". The Columbian. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
46. ^ Zielinsky, Alex (December 31, 2019). "Portland Has a New Police Chief. How Did That Happen So Quickly?". Portland Mercury. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Portland Police Bureau 2021 Organizational Chart—PDF

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45°30′55″N 122°40′36″W / 45.515204°N 122.676795°W / 45.515204; -122.676795

• Portland Police Bureau
• 1870 establishments in Oregon
• Government agencies established in 1870
• Government of Portland, Oregon
• Municipal police departments of Oregon