In a reshuffling meant to add some diversity to the chief's inner circle, the bureau announced today that O'Dea has created a fourth assistant chief post and will fill it with one of the bureau's most senior African American officers, Transit Division Commander Kevin Modica.
Modica, who'd been tapped by retiring Chief Mike Reese to lead community discussion ahead of the Ferguson grand jury verdict last month, will head up the bureau's brand new Community Services branch. O'Dea will hand it some of the divisions that glutted the bureau's Operations branch, which he'd run for years: Traffic, Transit, Youth Services, and—significantly—Tactical Operations.
Those divisions are notable because they control many of the bureau's specialty units, including the gang enforcement team. The gang team has had some of the most racially disparate stops and search data, according to numbers provided by the bureau earlier this year. Modica had been part of the tactical operations team earlier in his career, telling the public, after the shooting death of Keaton Otis in 2010, that he didn't think gang cops were profiling people based on what they looked like.
O'Dea says giving "Community Services" its own branch will give the bureau more opportunities to work on equity initiatives and outreach in mending ties with community members. That outreach is another of O'Dea's top goals. The bureau says the reorganization won't cost any additional money and will comport with a staffing study the bureau commissioned this year; its results are expected next year.
"Just as we moved ahead with Department of Justice (DOJ) recommendations prior to the settlement agreement being finalized, it's important that we adopt this reorganization that the staffing study will be recommending," O'Dea said in a prepared statement. "I can tell you from firsthand knowledge the workload in both the Operations Branch and the Services Branch is very heavy and doesn't allow for the necessary time to tackle additional initiatives such as community engagement."
O'Dea's also made clear that a new hire for the bureau, an equity and diversity manager, will report directly to the chief. O'Dea has told the Mercury that person—a candidate is going through background checks before being formally introduced—will start next year and have a free hand to intercede anywhere in the bureau they see fit.
Longtime Central Precinct Commander Bob Day, formerly in charge of the bureau's training division, will take over for O'Dea as assistant chief of Operations. Day will oversee the bureau's three precincts and its riot squads. O'Dea is retaining the bureau's two other current assistant chiefs: Donna Henderson, who's in charge of detectives and the drugs and vice squad, among other units; and Mike Crebs, who's in charge of training, internal affairs, and budget matters.
Other names moving around? Former spokesman Lieutenant Robert King will be promoted to the captain's job in East Precinct, under new Commander Dave Hendrie. Current East Commander Sara Westbrook will take over Day's post in Central—giving her a similar career trajectory to former chief Rosie Sizer and Reese. North Precinct Commander Mike Leloff, meanwhile, will take over for Modica in Transit. He'll be followed in North by current youth services Captain Chris Uehara.
For those keeping track, two of O'Dea's assistant chiefs are either a woman or a person of color—along with two of his three precinct commanders.
Read the bureau's full statement after the cut.
INCOMING CHIEF O'DEA ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMAND CHANGES (PHOTO)
News Release from Portland Police Bureau
Posted on FlashAlert: December 11th, 2014 2:06 PM
Downloadable file: Cmdr Day
Downloadable file: Cmdr Modica
Incoming Chief Larry O'Dea announced today organizational changes and personnel assignments for the Portland Police Bureau. Assistant Chief O'Dea will be appointed Chief of Police on January 2, 2015; these changes will be effective, January 8, 2015.The Bureau currently has three branches: Operations, Investigations and Services. Under Chief O'Dea, the Bureau will add a fourth branch called Community Services. This branch will be responsible for: the Traffic Division; Transit Police Division; Youth Services Division; and Tactical Operations Division. Emergency Management will also be in this branch, under the direction of the Traffic Division. These divisions were previously part of the Operations Branch.
The Operations Branch will contain: the three precincts; Rapid Response Team; Critical Incident Command; and Crowd Control Incident Command.
"The most important reason for this change is to provide the senior leadership team the opportunity to oversee increased community engagement," said Chief O'Dea. "I discussed this priority when I was named Chief in October; it is vital that we increase our efforts in regard to community engagement. We must continue to build community relationships and trust. The value of these relationships is unmeasurable and critical as we move forward."
Adding a fourth branch will not cost any additional money and is fully supported by the staffing study that will be forthcoming in the first part of the year.
"Just as we moved ahead with Department of Justice (DOJ) recommendations prior to the settlement agreement being finalized, it's important that we adopt this reorganization that the staffing study will be recommending," said Chief O'Dea. "I can tell you from firsthand knowledge the workload in both the Operations Branch and the Services Branch is very heavy and doesn't allow for the necessary time to tackle additional initiatives such as community engagement."
Other changes include: The Department of Justice (DOJ) responsibilities and the new Equity/Diversity Manager will be direct reports to Chief O'Dea. The Information Technology Division will move from the Services Branch to the Investigations Branch.
Chief O'Dea also announced personnel assignments for the senior leadership team.
"I made these decisions after thoughtful consideration, and they were based on these individuals' ability to engage the community," Chief O'Dea said.
Commander Kevin Modica, currently assigned to the Transit Division, will be promoted to Assistant Chief, Community Services Branch.
Commander Bob Day, currently assigned to Central Precinct, will be promoted to Assistant Chief, Operations Branch.
Assistant Chief Donna Henderson will remain as Investigations Branch Assistant Chief.
Assistant Chief Mike Crebs will remain as Services Branch Assistant Chief.
Commander Mike Leloff, currently assigned to North Precinct, will move to the Transit Police Division.
Commander Sara Westbrook, currently assigned to East Precinct, will move to Central Precinct.
Captain Dave Hendrie, currently assigned to the Tactical Operations Division, will be promoted to Commander of East Precinct.
Captain Chris Uehara, currently assigned to Youth Services Division, will be promoted to Commander of North Precinct.
Lt. Tom Hunt, currently assigned to North Precinct, will be promoted to Captain and assigned to Central Precinct.
Lt. Robert King, currently assigned to East Precinct, will be promoted to Captain and remain at East Precinct.
Lt. Matt Wagenknecht, currently assigned to Central Precinct, will be promoted to Captain, and assigned to the Tactical Operations Division.
Lt. John Scruggs, currently assigned to the Chief's Office, will be promoted to Captain and assigned to the Youth Services Division.
Lt. Vince Elmore, currently assigned to the Records Division, will be promoted to Captain and remain in the Records Division.
