Police Chief Update
June 17, 2024
We are pleased to announce that Lt. Patrick Huskey has accepted the City's offer to serve as Sandy's next Chief of Police.
Lt. Huskey is currently the Portland Area Commander for the Oregon State Police, overseeing all patrol activities for Clackamas and Multnomah Counties.
"I am truly grateful for this opportunity to serve as Sandy's next Police Chief," said Huskey. "I have worked in the Sandy area for over 20 years with the Oregon State Police, and it has always been one of my favorite places. As Sandy's Chief I intend to be a visible member of the community, participating in events and making myself available for conversations with local residents. I look forward to working together to address our challenges, solve problems, and keep our town safe as we continue to grow."
Lt. Huskey will start as Chief in Sandy later this summer; the standard required medical, psych, and background evaluations are already underway.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the community reception for the police chief finalists; your input is appreciated.
Please join us in welcoming Chief Huskey to Sandy!
May 31, 2024
A video recording of the reception is available here.
The City will be hosting a public reception for Police Chief finalists on the morning of Friday June 7th from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Sandy Community Center (38348 Pioneer Blvd). Introductory information on the finalists is available here.
Those unable to attend in person can view the reception using this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86537560243
The reception will include two parts: first the finalists will introduce themselves and provide answers to the questions below. After the questions are completed, there will be time for more informal conversations between the finalists and attendees. City staff, including the City Manager, will also be present and available to speak with attendees.
- Why are you interested in our police chief position? Why is Sandy Oregon the right place for you?
- Please tell us a little about your last job. What did you enjoy about it, and how did you decide it was the right time to move on to a new job opportunity?
- What do you see as the role of a police chief in a city and in the larger community? How do you plan to fill that role here in Sandy, and what will be your approach to help bring the community together?
- What are your views on policing, and what will be your top law enforcement priorities if you become Sandy's next police chief?
May 29, 2024
The screening process for the new recruitment is now finished, and finalists have been identified.
Key factors that were weighed when screening the candidates included:
- Prior police chief experience and length of public safety career
- Education, training, and certifications
- Emergency management experience
- Approach to community policing
March 20, 2024
The new recruitment process for the Police Chief position is now underway. Applications are being accepted, and the first review of applications is scheduled for April 21st. Please click here to read the position profile, characteristics of the ideal candidate, and required education and experience.
March 6, 2024
The City is today announcing that Gary Jensen is no longer under consideration for the Sandy Police Chief position. The City followed the established process and ensured that a thorough background check was conducted, and is now acting upon the results of that check.
Today we are also announcing that later this month the City will launch a new recruitment process for the Police Chief position. The new process will involve more extensive review of candidates before they reach the finalist stage. The contracted recruiting firm will perform this follow-up search for no additional professional fee (the City will only pay for new advertising expenses).
Interim Chief Yamashita will continue to lead our Police Department while the new recruitment is conducted. We appreciate the community's interest in this matter, and we also thank our Police Department staff for their continued service and dedication to Sandy.
February 23, 2024
As a result of information that has been brought to the City’s attention during the Police Chief recruitment process, we are announcing a change in the interim leadership of the police department while an investigation is conducted into the accuracy of that information. Starting today, former Sandy Police Chief Kim Yamashita will lead the Sandy Police Department until Sandy’s next permanent police chief assumes the office.
Though community members may understandably have questions, the City is unable to comment further at this time because of the ongoing investigation.
