Portland Police Chief Bob Day has announced the cancellation of two Police Bureau contracts in response to concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest.
This decision follows the city’s prior payments of $37,500 to the August Wilson Red Door Project, where Day previously served as the director of strategic initiatives from 2020 to 2023, and $42,390 to Ferraris Investigations & Consulting, a firm led by Jim Ferraris, a retired Woodburn police chief and former Police Bureau assistant chief who worked alongside Day.
Although the amounts paid to these organizations are relatively small compared to the Police Bureau’s annual budget of approximately $300 million, the City Council has been vocal about the necessity for the bureau to reduce its expenditures.
The Red Door Project aims to use theater performances to foster better relationships between the police and the community.
Under the terms of its contract, the bureau hired the Red Door Project to provide services such as executive coaching, community engagement, and diversity enhancement education, with the city approving expenditures of up to $100,000.
Meanwhile, Ferraris Investigations & Consulting specializes in agency and police reviews, handling employee misconduct investigations, and examining use of force and police shootings.
His firm was contracted to develop a succession plan for the Police Bureau, focusing on identifying leadership candidates and creating advancement pathways for officers of color.
Additionally, Ferraris was asked to provide recommendations related to the Police Bureau’s organizational structure and crime prevention strategies.
The city extended Ferraris’ contract through December 31, with an authorization for total payments up to $150,000.
In a recent interview, Day acknowledged the appearance of conflicts of interest regarding the contracts but expressed that his decision was also financially motivated in light of the challenging fiscal environment faced by the bureau.
“I recognize fully, you know, people call it cronyism, good old boy system, whatever the term is,” Day stated.
He attributed the decision to the ongoing budget discussions that have occupied much of his time in recent weeks.
The issues surrounding the contracts first came to light following an article published by a journalist with the Portland Mercury, leading to Day’s decision to terminate the agreements on May 9.
Day did not pursue competitive bids for the two contracts, instead choosing a sole-source process based on the urgency of addressing the needs of the Police Bureau and the specialized knowledge of the contractors.
“I needed someone who understood the city and the Police Bureau,” he explained, noting that Ferraris had considerable experience, having served 28 years within the organization.
Invoices indicated that Ferraris billed the bureau at a rate of $400 per hour for consulting services, along with $75 per hour for travel time.
In April, Ferraris provided a memo containing recommendations that included restructuring command by streamlining divisions and maintaining the roles of deputy chief and three assistant chiefs.
Ferraris’ expertise has been sought by other law enforcement agencies as well, including a recent investigation into misconduct allegations against two probation officers in Wasco County.
Kevin Jones, co-founder and chief creative director of the Red Door Project, expressed hope for future collaboration with the Police Bureau.
“We are eagerly looking forward to resuming our collaboration and continuing to make a positive impact in our community,” he stated in a response to the decision.
In defense of the initial contracts, Day maintained that the Police Bureau adhered to the city’s procurement guidelines by posting a public notice regarding the contract intentions.
He emphasized that other organizations had the opportunity to voice objections during a seven-day notice period but no complaints were raised.
Day also contended that his established relationships in the city, stemming from his 35 years of active involvement, were instrumental in selecting individuals who could effectively respond to the bureau’s needs.
“I needed to have people that could step up, to step into the space and do the work, and they happen to be people I have a relationship with,” he concluded.
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