Outlaw Selected As Police Chief In Portland

PORTLAND, OR — Mayor Ted Wheeler on Monday announced he'd selected Danielle Outlaw as the city's new chief of police, concluding a search that began in May. Outlaw is expected to take over for Chief Mike Marshman no later than Oct. 2.

Outlaw, a 19-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department, will be the first black female police chief in the city of Portland's history — a history which includes "legally sanctioned systemic racism with legally enforced exclusionary practices," according to the police chief job posting on the city's website. Wheeler previously made clear his intention to change the course of Portland's — and perhaps Oregon's — history of racism, and this appears to be the first step.

"I have concrete goals for the Portland Police Bureau, all of them challenging to achieve," he said in the Monday statement. "I need a partner. I need a leader. More than that, I need someone with a passion for this work who will be in it for the long haul."

Outlaw has been with the Oakland Police Department (OPD) for her entire career in law enforcement, beginning in 1997 as an Oakland Police Explorer while still a student at Holy Names High School. Since that time, Outlaw has worked numerous positions in numerous divisions throughout the department, including patrol and community services, internal affairs, public information, and for the Office of Chief of Police.

Outlaw is currently deputy chief for the OPD — a position she's held since 2013, and a position for which only two women have historically been selected.

"My life's passion is policing. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of my fellow officers and the residents of the community," Outlaw said in the statement. "Portland is an amazing city. I am humbled by the tremendous opportunity in front of me, and am ready to get to get to work."

Outlaw, who said she plans to live in Portland when she takes over as chief, will now have to wait for Oregon State Police to conduct a background check, which could take four to six weeks, officials said.

Following the mayor's announcement, Marshman announced his own retirement.

"I want to thank the members of the Portland Police Bureau for their support and the incredible work they do every day to keep Portland safe," Marshman said in a statement. "It has been an honor to serve as chief of police and to serve this community throughout my career. I'm confident that the Portland Police Bureau will continue to be a leader in 21st Century policing and the community should rest easy knowing they have one of the best police departments in the country."

One of four finalists for the chief position, Marshman assumed the role of chief in June 2016, following the ouster of former chief Larry O'Dea, who lost the job after accidentally shooting a friend in Harney County while the pair were hunting — and then reportedly lying about it.

Marshman, whose critics called for his resignation following the bureau's handling of protests after the November 2016 election, is said to have "jump-started recruitment efforts, attracting a highly-qualified, diverse set of recruits to fill a shortage in the ranks of officers," according to Wheeler's spokesman Michael Cox. Marshman, Cox said, also improved morale within the bureau.

The Portland Police Association, which had formerly refuted the need for Marshman's replacement, saw its president, Officer Daryl Turner, issue a statement of his own Monday, thanking Marshman for the work he did while chief:

"As president of the Portland Police Association, I'd like to thank Chief Mike Marshman for his leadership over the past fourteen months during the most tumultuous times we've seen in the past quarter century. He took a ship in troubled waters, in danger of running aground, and turned us back towards the horizon. His leadership stabilized this organization and improved morale. We have nothing but respect and admiration for him as our Police Chief and as a member of the Portland Police Bureau.

"The rank and file members of the Portland Police Association are now and have always been the foundation of the PPB. Although we will miss Chief Marshman’s leadership, we will continue to move this organization in a positive direction as we serve the needs of our ever-evolving and diverse community with dedication, equity, and compassion."

Wheeler offered his own conciliatory goodbye to Marshman as well.

"Mike Marshman made tremendous strides in key areas during his time as chief," Wheeler said. "I enjoyed a positive working relationship with him, and have the highest respect for him as a leader and as a person. He is a good man."

In March, Marshman and Adjutant Lieutenant Michael Leasure were put on administrative leave and reassigned to the Bureau's Personnel Division after accusations arose that Marshman directed Leasure to sign him into an attendance log for a training event Marshman reportedly did not attend, and because statements they both provided during an initial investigation of the incident did not match up.

Marshman was reinstated as chief less than a month later, cleared of any supposed violations of the bureau's directive on truthfulness.

Photo Courtesy: Portland Police Bureau