PORTLAND, Ore. — Mike Reese, a former chief for the Portland Police Bureau and sheriff for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, has been selected by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to run the state's prisons, the governor's office reported Tuesday.
Reese will serve as the head of the Oregon Department of Corrections.
"As DOC Director, I will do my very best to lead this department, our staff, and adults in custody towards better outcomes," he said in a statement. "The Department of Corrections is a core pillar of our public safety system. Our ability to adequately rehabilitate adults in custody and recruit, train and retain a skilled workforce driven by accountability, integrity and professionalism has a direct impact on Oregon communities and I am resolved to ensure these standards are met."
Reese has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He started as a deputy at the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in 1989, then joined the Portland Police Bureau in 1994, eventually becoming the bureau chief. Kotek's office said he served "as one of the longest-standing police chiefs" in recent history in Portland. Reese was elected Multnomah County Sheriff in 2016 and served in that role until he retired in 2022.
"I have confidence in incoming Director Reese's ability to bring a clear vision and advance the organizational and cultural changes needed to bring forward the next chapter at DOC," Kotek said in a statement. "He has an unparalleled record within the public safety sector for being a collaborator and a problem solver, guided by justice, equity, and a commitment to uphold the public's trust."
In a statement, Oregon Justice Resource Center Executive Director Bobbin Singh criticized Reese's appointment.
"Governor Kotek had the opportunity to appoint someone forward-thinking as Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections," the statement reads in part. "Instead, she has appointed Mike Reese, a law enforcement professional who does not have experience of working with Oregonians or any individuals in prison. Reese also does not have a background in rehabilitation or any model of care for those serving long sentences."