Skip to main contentSomeday, perhaps sooner than we think, Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker will load up his belongings in a U-Haul and head on home to La-La Land. He's applied to head the police department in Los Angeles, where he spent 32 years. Even if he doesn't get the job, he concedes that the pull of family and friends is strong. The final decision on who will replace him belongs to Mayor Vera Katz. Here are some potential candidates to be Portland's next top cop.
| name | age | years as cop | odds | pro | con |
| ASSISTANT CHIEF DREW KIRKLAND | 40 | 15 | 20 to 1 | Charismatic, well-spoken, popular among the rank-and-file. Favored by lefties thanks to his prominent role in spurning the advances of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who wanted Portland cops to interrogate Middle Eastern men. | Off-the-cuff remarks during the Ashcroft showdown hurt him with the Mayor. Has shown questionable judgment--in 1994 was caught sleeping with a girlfriend on the job, and in 1988 was accused of rape (see story). Kirkland said the sex was consensual. |
| ASSISTANT CHIEF GREG CLARK | 55 | 27 | 10 to 1 | Experienced, direct and capable. Has held a variety of posts, ranging from detective to gang-enforcement to criminal intelligence. Good cop mustache. | Helped set up the bureau's special reaction team (SERT), whose lewd hazing rites became a scandal last year. Says he's not interested in the job. |
| ASSISTANT CHIEF DERRICK FOXWORTH | 43 | 20 | 1 to 4 | Has a huge following in Northeast Portland. Capable and smart. Spent time as a spokesman for the bureau and has good relations with the media. Boasts charisma and a chief-like demeanor. Mayor likes him. | Only recently was promoted to assistant chief. Control-oriented personality could clash with mayor's micro-managing. |
| MULT. COUNTY SHERIFF DAN NOELLE | 58 | 36 | 1,000 to 1 | Spent 28 years at the Portland Police Bureau. Knows who's competent and who's not. Unlike Chief Kroeker, Noelle knows how to dance around the turds on the public-relations sidewalk. | Insists he has no interest in the job. Intends to retire in January and concentrate on fishing and making furniture. |
| OFFICER TOM MACK | 47 | 17 | a million to one (or when hell freezes over) | As former bigwig with the police union, knows a lot about the bureau. A decorated hero. Will take the job if offered. | Cursed to forever be a line officer due to his tendency to speak his mind. Too acerbic for Vera's tastes. |
| MAYOR VERA KATZ | 69 | 0 | Only Vera knows for sure. | Infamous cop groupie. The job interview would not be a problem. Has lost 20 pounds on Weight Watchers and is ready to kick some criminal butt. | Gold braid of the chief's uniform might clash with her pearls. |
WWeek 2015