Prineville, Ore. – On Wednesday, the City of Prineville announced that Jeff Profio, a seasoned police officer from San Jose, California, will take over as the new police chief, effective November 18. Profio was selected from a pool of finalists who participated in interviews in April, during the first of two rounds of candidates considered for the role this summer.
In June, city officials had initially named three veteran law enforcement officers from Washington and California, including Profio, as finalists for the position. However, a week later, it was revealed that none of the candidates would be selected. By late July, the city presented a new trio of finalists for further consideration.
City Manager Steve Forrester explained to the Prineville Review on Thursday that Profio was actually one of the candidates reserved from the first round to still be considered with the second set of candidates.
This leadership transition follows the resignations of former Prineville Police Chief Larry Seymour and Captain Rob Gray earlier this spring. Both stepped down under a negotiated settlement, six months after being placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave during an investigation, the details of which were not disclosed by the city. The City also tried, unsuccessful, to keep the details of the settlement secret until the threat of a legal challenge by the Oregonian after exceptions cited by the city under the public records law were found insufficient.
The Prineville Review is also still investigating allegations the City Council may have violated Oregon public meetings law in approving the settlement for Seymour and Gray in an executive session. Oregon law requires that even when matters qualify for executive session, governing bodies must make final decisions ion public.
Seymour and the City are now in the midst of a civil lawsuit by a former police administrator.
In the interim, Lieutenant Shane Wilson has been overseeing the department.
“With over 29 years of law enforcement experience, Profio has spent his career dedicated to serving the public and keeping communities safe,” the city stated in its official announcement.aaaa
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City Manager Steve Forrester praised Profio’s background, saying “Jeff Profio’s extensive experience as a master instructor and his dedication to mentoring and coaching make him an ideal fit for the Prineville Police Department. His accomplishments in building high-performing teams will be instrumental in shaping the future of our department.”
The search for a new chief was part of a national recruitment effort, conducted in collaboration with a third-party firm. The selection process involved community meet-and-greet events and interviews with panels composed of regional public safety professionals, local leaders, and members of the Prineville Police Department.
“We are excited to welcome Jeff Profio as our new Chief of Police,” Forrester said. “We look forward to the positive impact he will have on both our police department and the community as a whole.”
Below is part of the statement made in a press release provided by the City of Prineville.
Jeff Profio began his career as a police officer with the San Jose Police Department in California, where he advanced through the ranks over 24 years. In his leadership roles, he served as a team leader for the SWAT Team, sergeant of the fugitive apprehension team, and commander of special operations teams, including SWAT, bomb squad, canine, and traffic enforcement. He was instrumental in developing department-wide training in procedural justice and implicit bias, cultivating a culture of excellence and accountability.
Profio also served on the San Jose Police Department Chaplaincy board of directors for approximately six years, where he helped provide direction and conducted fundraising events for the program.
Currently, Jeff serves as the second-in-command of a small agency, overseeing day-to-day operations and building a cohesive team. He has been a POST Master Instructor since 2005, a designation awarded by the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program, which oversees the training and certification of law enforcement personnel. In this capacity, he has facilitated POST-certified courses that emphasize team building and principled policing, which will be foundational for the Prineville Police Department.
Before entering law enforcement, Jeff worked for five years at the YMCA, where he integrated team building into youth programs. He has since developed and led workshops for non-profits, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector, focusing on a collaborative and human-centered approach to team dynamics.
