Former Multnomah County sheriff appointed to oversee Oregon Department of Corrections

Former Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese will take over as head of Oregon's Department of Corrections.

Reese, 66, will oversee an agency with a $2 billion budget with custody of about 12,000 adults across 12 prisons.

He retired as Multnomah County sheriff last year, where he oversaw a $175 million dollar budget, 800 employees, and the largest jail system in the state. His law enforcement career began in the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office as a deputy in 1989 before joining the Portland Police Bureau five years later.

Reese was one of the longest-standing police chiefs in the PPB, according to a biography from the governor's office. Reese was then elected sheriff in 2016.

His tenure included overseeing the response to COVID-19 in jail and racial justice protests in the wake of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd.

Reese also responded to an audit in 2022 that reported conditions in the county's two jails were worse for Black inmates and inmates with mental health conditions. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Reese said he was "committed to evaluating" policies and practices within the department.

A Portland State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and an executive master’s in public administration, Reese said he will do his very best to lead the DOC, its staff and adults in custody toward better outcomes.

"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 said in a statement.

Reese has held paid and volunteer positions for nonprofits, according to the announcement of his appointment. He has worked as a counselor, director and board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Portland. He has also served as a board member of Transition Projects, the Irvington Community Association and the First Christian Church.

Appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek, Reese will have to tackle an agency struggling with inadequate staffing and will be in charge of addressing a recent report that determined women incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility are failing to have their needs met. Kotek ordered the DOC to immediately take steps to address issues from the report.

Colette Peters, the state's former prison director, left to lead the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in 2022. Reese will take over for Heidi Steward, who has been serving as acting director and will become deputy director.

In an email to the DOC, Steward said she and Reese had spent the past week discussing the agency, its challenges and how to continue the momentum "in the good work occurring across the department." Reese faced many of the same difficulties while serving as Multnomah County sheriff the DOC is facing today including staffing, employee wellness, and the impact of substance use disorders and mental health challenges on the state's corrections systems, she added.

Reese will earn a yearly salary of $241,224 and will begin working Nov. 13.

Steward added in her email to DOC staff a statement from Reese where he told employees his top priority will continue to be community safety.

He also said he would be visiting Oregon's prisons, Linn and Douglas County community corrections, and other DOC worksites to better understand the department's mission over the coming months.

"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.”

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her atdlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Mike Reese named director of Oregon Department of Corrections