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. The city’s announcement notes that Cozzie has more than 30 years of experience in emergency communications, took over the Bureau of Emergency Communications in 2018 and previously led Clackamas County 9-1-1 for 12 years.
Budget fights that shaped his time at City Hall
Mayor Keith Wilson has rolled out a proposed 2026–27 budget aimed at closing a general fund shortfall pegged at roughly $160–$172 million, OPB reported. To close that gap, Wilson’s plan includes cuts that would pare administrative staff, reduce some unarmed public safety roles and trim certain fire resources. Coverage from KPTV details how those choices could affect police support specialists, 911 staffing and other services inside the Public Safety Service Area that Cozzie oversees.
911 strain and BOEC’s history
All of this is landing on an already stressed 911 system. OregonLive previously reported that a former director of the Bureau of Emergency Communications falsified data to hide the bureau’s failures to answer calls on time. A recent city "Staffing Study and Plan" for the bureau, published on Portland.gov, warns of understaffing and capacity risks at the 911 center and describes how shortfalls in call taking can ripple into police and fire response times.
What comes next at City Hall
City councilors are opening hearings this week on the mayor’s budget proposal and are expected to vote on a final spending plan in June, according to OPB. That decision will determine how the staffing and programs Cozzie currently manages look going forward and whether city leaders opt for a quick interim appointment or mount a wider search for his replacement.
Why it matters
Cozzie’s exit takes an experienced manager out of the mix just as Portland is trying to shore up dispatch, fire and police operations under severe financial pressure. As the budget fight unfolds, the people answering 911 calls and the responders on the street are likely to feel whatever choices City Hall makes next.
