Mayor Wheeler announced that Marcell Frazier will serve as the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention effective August 17, 2023. Frazier was hired following a national recruitment for the position that included input from the community. The Office of Violence Prevention leads the City’s efforts to work with those at high risk of experiencing gun violence through street level outreach, intensive case management, and other direct engagement.
“I look forward to working closely with Director Frazier to continue our important work to reduce gun violence in Portland,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler.
The Office of Violence Prevention includes the City’s Safe Blocks Program and other long- and short-term crime prevention initiatives led by experienced professionals who approach public safety from a public health perspective with a shared understanding that violence can be both prevented and treated. These programs strive to help all Portlanders feel safe and connected by addressing and mitigating root causes, such as social and environmental factors.
Frazier is a longtime Portland resident and graduate of David Douglas High School with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After a professional football career, he served as a recruiting coordinator, academic coordinator, and coach at two small colleges in California and Missouri before returning to Oregon in 2022. Most recently Frazier worked as the City of Gresham’s Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator and Youth Services Manager.