St. Helens — Multiple residents urged the St. Helens City Council on March 19 to appoint Acting Chief Hogue as permanent police chief, and the council moved the item to the regular session agenda for a vote later that evening.

Supporters said the department has suffered from a problematic hiring process and personnel departures and that Hogue has restored stability while serving as acting chief. Dustin King, a former St. Helens Police Department officer, told the council the department "is at a crossroads" and urged immediate action: "There is no need for an evaluation period. There is no need to look elsewhere. You have the answer to your problem sitting right in front of you." Freddie Preehime, a resident, similarly urged the council to "move him and move today to make him the chief."

The comments followed an earlier administrative clarification the council reviewed about public comment and the definition of "news media" under Oregon public meetings law. During the work session the council recessed into executive session and later returned to continue the work session; council members said the police chief discussion would be handled as an action item in the regular council meeting. A council member disclosed a potential conflict of interest noting her spouse is a St. Helens police officer.

Why it matters: Leadership changes in a municipal police department can affect department morale, investigations and interagency relations. Public commenters at the work session framed the appointment as a remedy for alleged misconduct and an improperly handled previous hire; the council did not make a final appointment in the work session and scheduled formal action in the regular session.

What was said and by whom: Dustin King, identified himself as a former officer with the St. Helens Police Department, described what he called an "improper hiring process" for a former chief that led to departures by long-tenured officers and said Hogue "has worked tirelessly" as acting chief to "repair the reputation" of the department. Freddie Preehime said some council members were "embroiled in the midst of the issues with the chief" and again urged immediate appointment of Hogue.

What the council did: The council did not hold or record a vote on the chief’s appointment during the work session. Council members agreed to place the matter on the regular session agenda for a formal action later the same evening. The session also included a declaration by an unnamed councilor that her husband works as a St. Helens police officer; she stated the disclosure to acknowledge a potential conflict of interest.

Context and next steps: The comments referenced a recently released report cited by residents as documenting misconduct in the department; the council did not discuss the report's findings in detail during the public comment period. The council’s decision on the chief will be determined in the subsequent regular session meeting. The city’s attorney and staff previously provided a clarification memo about public comment and media definitions during the earlier portion of the work session.

Ending: The matter was formally listed to be considered in the regular session; the council did not finalize an appointment in the work session.