PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Police Bureau welcomed a new chief of police on Tuesday afternoon.
Jami Resch, who had been serving as the bureau’s deputy chief, took the oath of office on Tuesday afternoon; just one day after now-former Chief Danielle Outlaw announced she was leaving Oregon. On Monday morning, Mayor Ted Wheeler announced Outlaw had accepted the position of Philadelphia police commissioner.
Resch has risen in the ranks of the PPB over the last 20 years and has the “complete confidence” of Mayor Wheeler behind her.
“We have considered all the options for what the next police chief should bring to the Bureau and after thoughtful, in-depth discussions, Jami Resch meets or exceeds all of the Bureau’s current leadership needs,” said Mayor Wheeler. “Having served as the deputy chief of police, I have complete confidence that Chief Resch will excel as our next police chief. She has my complete trust and a thorough understanding of my agenda. She is the right person at the right time for the job.”
Wheeler stated Resch is well-known, well-respected and trusted bureau-wide. Outlaw said that she’s leaving Portland knowing the bureau will be in capable hands.
“I leave knowing the Bureau will remain committed to community safety while building trust,” she said. “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.”
Resch is the fourth woman to lead the Portland Police Bureau. She’s a University of Portland alumnus and holds a degree in allied health sciences.
She started her career with Portland police as a patrol officer and went on to serve on the gun task force and the criminal intelligence unit. Resch also held the roles of critical incident commander and assistant chief of the investigations branch before being named deputy chief last year — a position created by Outlaw to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau while the chief focused on policy issues.
Replacing Resch as deputy chief is Chris Davis, a former assistant chief and commander of the PPB’s Central Precinct.