Photo: Ford, Brad
Today, during a joint press event, Mayor Ted Wheeler and Portland Police Bureau Chief Charles ‘Chuck’ Lovell announced a change in Police Bureau leadership with Chief Lovell stepping down as Chief and the announcement of Bob Day as interim Police Chief. Chief Lovell will move into a new role
leading the Bureau’s community engagement efforts.
“Chief Lovell has led the Bureau through unprecedented times with a steady and reliable hand,” Mayor Wheeler said. “He has nothing but my support, admiration, and gratitude for his service.”
Last fall, Portland voters approved an overhaul to our City Charter to go into effect on January 1st, 2025. Bob Day will serve as interim police chief through June 2025 to allow the newly elected Mayor and City Council to determine future leadership of the bureau.
Bob Day will officially assume the role starting October 11, 2023.
Chief Charles “Chuck” Lovell
Chief Chuck Lovell was sworn in as Chief of Police on June 11, 2020, during an unprecedented time in Portland’s history.
Throughout his tenure at the Portland Police Bureau, he has demonstrated to be a collaborative, culturally competent and ethically driven servant leader. A transformational leader, he is known for his self-growth and mentoring. Chief Lovell first joined the Bureau in 2002 and has served several roles in the Bureau, including as a School Resource Officer, Detective Sergeant, and Acting Captain of the newly formed Community Services Division, where he provided a focus and strategic direction to the Behavioral Health Unit, Service Coordination Team, Office of Community Engagement, and Homeless Community Liaison.
Bob Day
Bob first joined the Portland Police Bureau as an officer in 1990. He led multiple assignments and teams within the bureau, including the Training Division, Critical Incident Command, Crowd Management, and Operations Branch. He has been recognized for his innovative ideas in crime reduction strategies and his commitment to leading difficult conversations about race, civil disorder, behavioral health, and their impact on the criminal justice system. He has also been a trusted advisor to corporate and public sector leaders and a sought-after presenter on topics such as leadership, resilience, and hope. He became the Deputy Chief of Police in 2018 before retiring in 2019.
Source: Portland Mayor's Office