Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell is an American law enforcement officer who currently serves as the 41st Sheriff of Multnomah County, Oregon, the county where Portland is located.[1][2] She is the first woman to serve as sheriff in the county's history.
Career
Morrisey O'Donnell attended the University of Portland.[3] She started at the Sheriff's office in 1996 as a Deputy, before being promoted to lieutenant, captain, chief deputy and undersheriff.[1] She ran for Sheriff in 2022, facing Captain Derrick Peterson and Corrections Deputy Nicholas Alberts, both employees of the Sheriff's Office.[4][5] On May 17, 2022 Morrisey O'Donnell was elected with 62% of the vote.[6]
Multnomah County Sheriff
Morrisey-O'Donnel was sworn in as Sheriff on January 4, 2023, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the county's history.[7]
In August 2023, Morrisey-O'Donnel issued a directive clarifying that the county jail would only book suspects accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses, not those violating city ordinances.[8] In late July 2024, when Portland Police made the first arrest under a policy restricting times and places where homeless residents could camp on public property, the sheriff's office declined to book the suspect pursuant to this directive.[8] After criticism from Mayor Wheeler, Morrisey-O'Donnel defended the policy arguing that the corrections system should be used for individuals who pose a genuine danger to the public.[9] On August 20, 2024, Morrisey-O'Donnel agreed to begin booking people accused of violating the ordinance for a 120 day trial period while evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of the new approach.[10]
Personal life
Morrisey O'Donnell lives in Portland with her husband. She is a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Oregon.[11]
She cites her father's near-death experience during an armed robbery as a primary reason for her choice to become a law enforcement officer.[11]