After a celebrated and impactful career in law enforcement that spans nearly four decades, Tigard Police Chief Kathy McAlpine is officially announcing her retirement.
Since joining Tigard Police in 2017, Chief McAlpine has brought a new level of professionalism and progressive policing to our community. Known for being thoughtful, transparent, highly-engaged and data-driven, she has championed several successful initiatives in Tigard, including:
- Leading the department to its first state accreditation and subsequent reaccreditation through the Oregon Accreditation Alliance
- Developing the department’s first Strategic Plan, to clearly lay out goals, priorities and future direction of the department over 3-5 years
- Elevating open dialogue on policing, crime trends, successes and concerns through a public-facing monthly ‘dashboard’ and creation of a Police Transparency webpage (www.tigard-or.gov/transparency)
- Partnering with the Public Safety Advisory Board to review and evaluate department policies and procedures over an 18-month period, which later led the City of Tigard to earn the 2022 Good Governance Award from the League of Oregon Cities
- Bringing Tigard a greater depth of knowledge on industry best practices, legislative changes and national/regional trends by serving as a:
- Board representative and legislative subcommittee member for the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP)
- Board member for the Oregon Accreditation Alliance (OAA)
- Police Policy Committee and Application Review Committee member for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)
- Board of commissions and CEO board member for the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA)
Before coming to Tigard, Chief McAlpine served for more than 30 years in the Tacoma Police Department. She began her career there as a police officer in 1986, where she later held the ranks of detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief. During her time as a sergeant, she worked patrol, street crimes, narcotics and Internal Affairs, both as an investigator and later as the Bureau Chief. As a narcotics investigator, she was assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. As a lieutenant, she developed and commanded the department’s first gang unit.
During her tenure with Tacoma Police, she also led several initiatives. Under her guidance, the department became the first stand-alone police department to receive CART (Child Abduction Response Team) Certification. She also oversaw the department receiving its first accreditation certificate (and later, successful re-certification) from CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
She was instrumental in implementing many of the pillars of the 21st Century Policing initiative, working to build trust between police and communities of color, and brought that philosophy to her role as Chief of Police in Tigard.
“The City of Tigard is very fortunate to have had Chief McAlpine leading our Police Department over the past 6 ½ years,” said City Manager Steve Rymer. “She is to be commended for her integrity, professionalism, and dedication. Because of her leadership, we focus on protecting our entire community, openly engage in dialogue with our community, and have a well-trained and dedicated Police Department. I’d like to personally thank her for her leadership and service.”
Chief McAlpine’s retirement will be effective January 24, 2024. City Manager Rymer is appointing Commander Jamey McDonald as Interim Chief for the foreseeable future. Rymer’s priority is to select a permanent replacement who will reflect the best interest of the department and the greater Tigard community. A timeline for this process has not yet been established.
“I am so grateful to everyone in our incredible police department and in the Tigard community for the time we’ve shared together,” said Chief McAlpine. “Leading this department has been the highlight of my career. I deeply appreciate your trust in me and have every confidence in the future of this professional organization.”
