City announces finalists for police chief

Beaverton Police captain, retired Portland Police lieutenant vie for position

The search for West Linn's next police chief has been narrowed to two finalists.

The City announced Tuesday, April 3, that Beaverton Police Captain Jeffrey Williams and retired Portland Police Bureau Lieutenant Terry Kruger were selected as finalists after a first round of interviews March 28. West Linn received 47 applications and interviewed six candidates before narrowing the list to two.

"The final screening process will involve a one-on-one interview with the city manager, and interview with police department staff and a public reception to meet the candidates," Citizen Engagement Coordinator Courtney Flynn said in a press release.

In a memo to the City Council April 5, City Manager Eileen Stein said the interviews and reception would all take place Wednesday, April 18. The public reception will be in the West Linn Police Station Community Room from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Williams has served with the Beaverton Police Department since 2011. As captain, he currently manages oversight of the department's patrol, traffic, training and administration divisions. He's also a member of the Beaverton Internal Equity Team, the Beaverton Incident Management Team and serves as acting police chief when necessary.

Williams started his career with the Forest Grove Police Department as a patrol officer and left as a captain. He also served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve for 14 years and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Kruger – a 25-year West Linn resident — served in the Portland Police Bureau for 28 years before retiring in 2016 as police adjutant lieutenant. In that role, he was the adjutant for two chiefs of police while supervising the communications unit and serving as a business liaison. During his career, he also oversaw the detective division and units focused on homicide, felony assault, bias crimes, cold cases and missing persons. As a sergeant, he was team leader for the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT).

The City's former police chief, Terry Timeus, retired last fall. Captain Neil Hennelly has served as acting chief since then, but plans to retire at the end of June.