Longtime public safety leader Bob Cozzie will serve as Portland’s interim deputy city administrator for public safety starting June 16, City Administrator Michael Jordan announced today. The position oversees Portland’s Public Safety Service Area, including police, fire, 911, emergency management, Portland Street Response, and other programs.
Cozzie brings over 30 years of public safety experience, including time in several 9-1-1 positions at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, training manager at the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications, and director of Clackamas County 9-1-1. He has served as the director of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications since 2018. Cozzie also participates in leadership positions on several committees with a direct impact on the 9-1-1 industry and public safety, including the State Interoperability Executive Council, Oregon Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, and Portland Dispatch Center Consortium.
“Director Cozzie’s track record as an effective leader, many years of experience, and familiarity with Portland’s public safety bureaus make him the ideal choice during this time of transition,” City Administrator Jordan said. “I appreciate his willingness to take on this role.”
Outgoing Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety Mike Myers’ last day is June 30. A search for the permanent deputy city administrator will launch in the coming months, with a hire anticipated by the end of 2025.
Steve Mawdsley, current deputy director at the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications, will serve as the bureau’s interim director.