Jeff Mori’s last day as Vancouver’s chief of police is in October, and at a National Night Out event Wednesday, he told folks that the city should hire deputy chief Troy Price to lead the department

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

They arrived together, two friends, two work colleagues, eager to meet and greet the public for a National Night Out event in east Vancouver.

It was Chief Jeff Mori of the Vancouver Police Department and Troy Price, the deputy chief of police.

During a conversation with one of the first to meet them, Mori was overheard discussing the future of the Vancouver Police Department. He told a woman that he hoped that it would be Price who would be leading the department. 

Earlier this month, Mori announced he would be retiring as the chief. His last day is Oct. 11. 

Price is expected to be the acting police chief, but Mori said the city should do itself a favor and make Price the chief.

“There is no need for a national search,” Mori told a member of the public at the National Night out event at LeRoy Haagen Park.

Then, talking to a reporter, Mori was even more passionate about his wishes.

“I fully endorse this man right here,” Mori said, motioning to Price. “Here’s your best talent right here. He’s being courted right now by other agencies to be their chief. So just make him the police chief.”

Mori noted that Price would be the first in decades who moved up from the ranks of patrol officer in Vancouver to become the chief. Price did start his law enforcement career in Chicago, but he moved to Vancouver to become a patrol officer in 1997 and has been with the city ever since.

“I loved that work,” Price recalled of his early days with Vancouver PD.

And, yes, he would love to lead the department.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to serve if afforded the opportunity. I’m happy to serve in any capacity. It’s been a good ride,” Price said.

Mori and Price met each other when they were both applying for the role of assistant chief. The city ended up hiring both of them as assistants.

“I was impressed by him,” Price said of Mori.

In fact, Price recalled telling others about Mori: “I hope they hire this guy because I’d love to work with him.” 

A friendship was formed.

“It’s been like this since Day 1. We joked with everyone that we were separated at birth. We do think alike,” Price said. “We started this journey together in the office of the chief. We have kind of the same vision for what the police department should be.”

Mori and Price also handed out flyers with information about Proposition 4, the police services levy that will go to voters in November. 

But their main priority on Wednesday was just to meet the public, put a face to the badges. Other police officers were there, too, to say hello. They were scheduled to stop by several National Night Out events throughout the city.

“It’s an opportunity for us to engage in the community. It lets us show them we are real people,” Mori said. “For us, it’s a way to say thank you. We are their police.”

National Night Out is an annual campaign that promotes law enforcement-community partnerships. 

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the office of the chief to get out and connect with people in our communities,” Price said. “This is a great opportunity to go out and talk. That’s what National Night Out is about. It’s just out here getting to know your neighbors, making those community connections. We love it.”
For Mori, this was his last National Night Out in an official capacity.

“But I live in this community. I’m not moving. I’ll keep coming to these,” he said.

He looked around at all the vendors from city and county departments, charities, and local businesses and vendors who showed up at the park. There was an inflatable bounce house/castle obstacle course off in the distance. And the Vancouver Community Concert Band was preparing to play.

“This is what makes, in my opinion, Vancouver, Clark County, and Southwest Washington so amazing,” Mori said. “I love this city.”