Portland advances four candidates for new police accountability director

Four candidates have advanced to the final stage in the search for the inaugural director of Portland’s new Office of Community-based Police Accountability (OCPA). The candidates are Sean Eldridge, Mac Muir, George Perezvelez, and Bessie Marie Scott.

The Community Board for Police Accountability (CBPA) will host a public meeting on September 9 to introduce the candidates and allow community members to provide feedback. The selected director will be responsible for establishing the office's systems, staffing, investigations, and day-to-day operations.

The OCPA was created following the passage of Ballot Measure 26-217 in 2020. Under this voter-approved system, the OCPA is tasked with investigating misconduct allegations involving Portland Police Bureau employees, while the CBPA reviews those investigations and determines appropriate discipline.