Panel Revokes Former Oregon Police Chief's Certification for 10 Years

The Oregon Board of Public Safety Standards and Training voted 14-to-4 to revoke former Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea's police certification for 10 years for dishonesty.

The Oregon Board of Public Safety Standards and Training voted 14-to-4 to revoke former Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea's police certification for 10 years for dishonesty.

City investigators allege that O'Dea misled investigators about his 2016 off-duty shooting of a friend. The administrative investigation by Portland's Independent Review office "found that O'Dea delayed reporting the shooting and then lied to investigators about the shooting while he was still chief," said a report on OregonLive.com.

In April, the same body refused to accept an earlier recommendation from its police policy committee to leave O'Dea's certification alone.

In a prepared statement, the board said that "O'Dea's conduct impacts his ability to be employed as a public safety professional because it violates the Code of Ethics, sworn and affirmed by him, to safeguard lives and property; to protect all persons against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder.''

O'Dea retired in June 2016 while he was under criminal investigation for the shooting.

About the Author