Date: July 22, 2025
Summary
The Portland City Council Community & Public Safety Committee met on July 22, 2025, to discuss several key issues related to public safety hiring practices. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the recent hiring of Reginald Freeman as the new Fire Chief. Concerns were raised about his previous employment and frequent job changes, including his work for the Saudi government, and the implications for his stability and alignment with Portland’s values. Additionally, there were discussions about the transparency of a poll conducted among fire union members regarding Freeman’s hiring, with questions about why the results were not disclosed. The committee also delved into the broader recruitment and hiring processes for public safety positions, discussing the criteria used for evaluating candidates and the potential need to expand reference checks. No votes were taken during this meeting, but several action items were noted for further consideration to refine and improve hiring practices within the city’s public safety departments.
Key Points
- Discussion on the hiring process for the new Fire Chief, Reginald Freeman, including concerns about his past employment and stability.
- Inquiry into the transparency and results of a poll conducted among fire union members regarding the hiring of the new Fire Chief.
- Overview of the recruitment and hiring process for various public safety positions, including the criteria and methods used in selecting candidates.
Watch Full Meeting
No votes were recorded in this meeting.
Action Items
- Further discussions and potential adjustments to the recruitment process for public safety positions.
- Clarification and follow-up on the fire union poll results and their transparency.
- Consideration of expanding reference checks in the hiring process to include people who have worked under the candidates.