June 08, 2022
INSIDE L ocaL N ews
Page 3
Support for Vancouver’s
New Police Chief
NAACP says
city made good
decision
Arts &
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ENTERTAINMENT
o piNioN
c Lassified /B ids
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When Vancouver announced
the selection of a new police chief
Wednesday, it came with the en-
dorsement from a longtime civil
rights organization on the front
lines of advocating for police re-
forms, the Vancouver NAACP.
City officials say Chief Jef-
frey Mori will bring 29 years of
progressively responsible law
enforcement experience to the po-
sition, including nine years as un-
dersheriff for Washington County
in Oregon and most recently three
years as assistant chief for the
Vancouver Police Department.
“The NAACP is proud of the
decision the city made. Jeff Mori
has shown consistent commit-
ment in navigating difficult and
systematic issues within our com-
munity,” said Vancouver NAACP
President Jasmine Tolbert. “Jeff
Jeffrey Mori draws support from
the Vancouver NAACP for his
appointment as Vancouver’s
next police chief.
has a healthy commitment to ra-
cial equity, and we hope to con-
tinue to partner with him on that
journey. Ultimately the NAACP
of Vancouver is here to hold the
Vancouver Police Department ac-
countable, but we are excited to
work with Jeff.”
Mori holds a bachelor’s degree
from Oregon State University and
is working toward his master’s in
Public Safety from University of
Virginia (projected 2023).
Vancouver City Manager Eric
Holmes said Mori’s experience
and background, teamed with his
proven ability to build and main-
tain meaningful relationships in
the community, has prepared him
well for the job.
“His clear vision for the future
of community safety in Vancouver
helped him emerge as the top can-
didate in a very competitive pool.
I am confident in his ability to lead
our Police Department in its next
chapter,” Holmes said.
In prepared remarks, Mori gave
thanks to the men and women who
show up each day to do the work
to keep our community safe.
“I look forward to leading the
Vancouver Police Department in
our continued efforts to expand
community partnerships and re-
lationships, grow the agency and
increase transparency and trust,”
he said.
Hardesty First for Runoff;
Ryan Re-Elected
Multnomah
County elects
first female
sheriff
Portland City Commissioner
Dan Ryan won re-election outright
avoiding a runoff in Oregon’s May
24 Primary while incumbent City
Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty
finished first against 10 other can-
didates, but short of the more than
50 percent of the vote needed to
avoid a runoff this November.
In other races, Multnomah
County voters elected Nicole
Morrisey O’Donnell as the first fe-
male sheriff in history. O’Donnell,
the sheriff’s department second in
command overcame a challenge
by Derrick Peterson, a long time
corrections officer and member of
the Black community.
In a victory for the Democrat-
ic Party’s progressive wing, for-
mer Oregon House Speaker Tina
Portland City Commissioners Dan Ryan and Jo Ann Hardesty
Kotek, backed by a strong win-
ning vote in Multnomah Coun-
ty where she represented north
Portland in the Legislature, won
the Democratic gubernatorial
primary, beating state Treasurer
Tobias Read.
Hardesty, the first Black wom-
an to serve on the Portland City
Council, pledged to run a positive
campaign as she heads to the gen-
eral election.
"I will continue to be posi-
tive. Other people can do what
they want, but I have a record of
accomplishment. So people can
say whatever they want, but I can
prove to a record. I came in with
an agenda, I stayed focused on
that agenda and I've had success
with that agenda," Hardesty said
Tuesday night.
Hardesty ran on her record of
initiating the non-armed Portland
Street Response team as a way to
lessen demands on the Police Bu-
reau which is shorthanded, and to
better deal with people in mental
health crisis.
Continued on Page 4