Commander Robert King (ret.) is a thirty-year veteran of policing who retired as Commander of the North Precinct for the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) in 2018 before transitioning to a role in the office of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in April 2019. Commander King was a survivor of a traumatic incident in 1991 that shaped and influenced the rest of his police career. He worked Patrol and was assigned to SWAT while also a trainer in firearms, defensive tactics, patrol tactics, less lethal, survival attitude, suicide prevention, and emotional survival. King also served as the Employee Assistance Coordinator early in his career, supporting officers and their families with peer support and chaplaincy services and helping to facilitate mental health services.  In 1999, King was promoted to detective and assigned to gang investigations. In 2000, Portland Police Officers elected King President of the Portland Police Association President, a role in which he served for eight (8) years. At the end of his third term, he returned to PPB as a street sergeant before being promoted to lieutenant. In that role, his assignments included the Training Division, Public Information Office, and the Drugs and Vice Division.  As he pursued promotion to Captain, King was assigned Acting Captain in the Forensic Evidence Division and promoted to Captain in 2015. King’s assignment was the East Precinct. In 2017 King became Commander of the North Precinct. He also served as Acting Assistant Chief of the Operations Branch during his final year with PPB (2018). Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler hired King as Senior Policy Advisor for Public Safety in April 2019, a role that was one of the most challenging of his career. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and May of that year saw the murder of George Floyd and the start of over 170 days of violent protests in Portland. An unprecedented increase in violence in 2020 resulted in over 150 officers retiring or resigning from PPB and the most challenging year in PPB history.  Commander King’s 30-year career in public service is rooted in a deep desire to support law enforcement officers and their families. He continues this mission through his work with Con10gency, a national company with strong support for law enforcement at its core. As the National Director of Training for Con10gency as well as Policing Advisor for Police2Peace, King hopes to share vital lessons learned over his career and ensure officers are supported, encouraged, and live satisfying lives as they provide essential public safety services to their community