City of Camas closes in on police chief pick

The city of Camas is one step closer to naming a new chief of police.

City leaders held a meet-and-greet event to introduce its latest round of police chief finalists to the public on Wednesday, April 19, at the Camas Public Library.

Participants had a chance to speak with the police chief candidates and learn more about their interest in leading the Camas Police Department.

The four police chief finalists include:

• David Abrahamson, a police captain for the Portland Police Bureau;

• James H. Band, chief of the Oregon City Police Department;

• Tina M. Jones, a police commander for the Portland Police Bureau; and

• Ronald D. Schaub, the police chief for the Pacific Police Department in Pacific, Washington.

The new chief will replace longtime Camas Police Chief Mitch Lackey, who announced his retirement in April 2022.

The four finalists are the second batch of police chief candidates in the running for Camas’ top cop position. City leaders introduced five police chief finalists in December 2022, and Camas Mayor Steve Hogan said in February that he had narrowed his decision to two top contenders, saying the two finalists “were both excellent candidates, each with unique strengths they could bring to the position.”

Less than one month later, the mayor announced the city would continue its police chief search and that Lackey would postpone his retirement until the city could hire his replacement.

Lackey, who has served on the Camas Police Department for more than three decades, said in April 2022, that he was honored to have served the city for so many years.

“I think the timing is right for a switch in the (police) department, and I will work with the mayor and the city administrator so that we have a real smooth transition,” Lackey said in 2022.

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