Happy
New Year!
2020
Established in 1970
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Volume XLVIV • Number 1
‘City
of
Roses’
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • January 1, 2020
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Chief Outlaw Leaving; Deputy Promoted
Danielle Outlaw will become police commissioner in Philadelphia.
Jami Resch is appointed Portland’s new police chief.
Year begins with
change in police
bureau leadership
dence in the Portland Police Bureau. He
said under her leadership, the bureau
formalized the use of the Incident Com-
mand System model for critical incidents
and crowd management, and implement-
ed crime strategies tailored to each pre-
cinct that have effectively reduced crimes
against persons, property and society.
Outlaw praised Mayor Wheeler for
placing his confidence in her during the
two years she served in Portland.
“For police chiefs, I don’t think there is
ever an ideal time to transition on to our next
role in life. However, I am making this tran-
sition on good terms, knowing the bureau
will be left in the hands of a strong leadership
team, led by Chief Jami Resch. And while
there will always be work to be done toward
improvement, that does not take away from
by M ichael l eighton
P ortland o bserver editor
Danielle Outlaw, the first African Amer-
ican woman to lead the Portland Police
Bureau, has accepted a new job to lead the
Philadelphia police department, and Jami
Resch, Outlaw’s recently named deputy
police chief, will be promoted to become
Portland’s next permanent police chief.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced
Outlaw’s departure and Resch’s hiring on
Monday.
Outlaw came to Portland two years
ago from the Oakland Police Department
in California. During her tenure here, she
challenged the city and law enforcement to
address racial inequities and now becomes
the police chief of the fourth largest police
department in the nation, with more than
6,500 sworn and 800 civilian members.
“I’d like to congratulate Chief Outlaw
for landing a once-in-a-lifetime opportuni-
ty,” Mayor Wheeler said Monday in a news
release. “We thank her for her service to
the city of Portland and the Portland Police
Bureau where she helped make a positive
difference. She came to Portland exceed-
ingly qualified for the position of police
chief, and leaves more prepared than ever
for her new position in Philadelphia.”
Wheeler credited Outlaw for helping
build community trust and public confi-
the fact that the members of the bureau are
not only extremely talented, compassionate
and professional, they are also resilient and
accountable to themselves, each other and to
the community,” Outlaw said.
“I leave knowing the Bureau will remain
committed to community safety while
building trust. It has been an honor and
a privilege to serve as Portland’s Police
Chief, serving alongside the members of
the Bureau and partnering with countless,
remarkable individuals within Portland’s
community. I will forever be appreciative
of my experience here,” she added.
Portland City Commission Jo Ann
Hardesty, the first black female member of
the Portland City Council and a longtime
c ontinued on P age 10