Society's Child

Once burned: Only 2 of 81 retired Portland police officers express interest in being rehired

Maxine Bernstein
The Oregonian
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:34 UTC

The Police Bureau also anticipates another large wave of retirements this July and will be working to encourage those veteran officers while they're still working for the bureau to consider coming back under the program as well.

© Reuters / Terray Sylvester
Police disperse protesters rallying against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Portland, Oregon, June 13, 2020

Only two recent retired officers among 81 contacted by Police Chief Chuck Lovell have expressed interest in helping fill Portland police vacancies under the city-approved retire-rehire program.

The chief urged them to consider returning in a letter last month, acknowledging that those who had retired since August 2020 left "at a time of great despair for the Bureau and the City of Portland."

Comment: Who would want to return to a job where one was completely disrespected by one's employer and by one's customers? Experienced officers can get a much better offer from Florida.

Reader Comments

ReRan · 2022-01-29T19:06:31Z

Maybe Tom Selleck should take over the Portland police service. He must have learned a lot playing the commissioner in Blue Bloods.

Buffalo_Ken · 2022-01-29T19:25:56Z

Who wants to be an unappreciated cop? I don't blame them one bit, but I support the Police Force, I just don't support some of the ideas lately in regards to proper policing and such. I don't blame others for feeling likewise.

Buffalo_Ken · 2022-01-29T19:29:57Z

Who wants to be an unappreciated cop? I don't blame them one bit, but I support the Police Force, I just don't support some of the ideas lately in regards to proper policing and such. I don't blame others for feeling likewise.

So to clarify. It is not easy to be a police officer especially when there is a contingent of thought thinking you have nothing but ill will. Makes it hard to do your job with dignity. Some of the armaments police forces have these days seem over the top - refer to Barney Fife for more info on this. Past practices have not fostered peace in the neighborhood and so I don't blame others for their frustration with the police. With that said, at the end of the day we need the Police and overall, not every single one, but overall my interactions with Police Officers as well as most of the Sheriffs (not all of them) have been positive in my mind. Funny in a way and ironic, but who needs more irony - I'm sick of it just like I'm sick of propaganda from the MSM bought and paid for.......blah, blah, blah....