Oregon Won’t Investigate Portland Police Chief’s Statement

Why the state declined to investigate

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read’s office declined to investigate six complaints alleging that Portland Police Chief Bob Day violated state restrictions on political activity by public employees.

Day had issued an official statement criticizing anti-police social media posts that Green made in 2020, before joining the City Council. The statement, distributed to news outlets through the Portland Police Bureau’s official account, did not name Green but identified his old posts. Day said he no longer had confidence that the councilor was evaluating the Police Bureau reasonably and objectively.

The elections office told complainants that Day’s remarks did not promote or oppose Green’s candidacy, campaign activity or an election outcome. It also noted that the chief did not refer to the November 2026 general election. The office viewed the statement as focused on Green’s past comments concerning the Police Bureau.

What prompted the complaints

Day spoke after the Portland Police Association, the union representing rank-and-file officers, called for Green to resign. Green is seeking reelection to the District 4 council seat.

The complainants argued that the statement’s timing and use of an official city account amounted to opposition to Green’s candidacy. Oregon law bars public employees from using their official authority to promote or oppose a person’s nomination or election to public office.

Portland attorney Nate Haberman said the state should have considered the timing, the police union’s statements and the fact that one of Green’s opponents is a Portland police officer. Haberman said he was unlikely to appeal. Another complainant, Jonathan Tasini, was still deciding whether to challenge the decision.

Complainants may appeal if they believe the elections office applied the law incorrectly.