Portland’s top public safety official is heading for the exit just as the city’s emergency systems are under heavy strain.
Bob Cozzie, the deputy city administrator for public safety, will step down on May 18, 2026, less than a year after he was permanently appointed to the role. His departure pulls out the senior official overseeing police, fire and the city’s 911 operation at a tense moment for core city services.
Departure comes amid budget crunch
OregonLive reports that Cozzie will leave his post on May 18, citing four sources who confirmed the timing. The outlet also noted that Cozzie earns an annual salary of $275,808 and oversees roughly 2,000 city employees across the Public Safety Service Area, meaning his exit leaves a sizable slice of city government in flux.
Cozzie’s background and role
The city named Cozzie deputy city administrator for public safety in September 2025 after he spent three months in the job on an interim basis, according to Portland.gov…..