Madras

City of Madras announces 3 police chief finalists, community meet and greet

Published Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 10:41 PM

By Bugle News Sources330 words, estimated 1 1/2-minute read

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MADRAS, Ore. - The City of Madras said Wednesday it has selected three finalists to move forward in the recruitment process for the city’s next chief of police.

Community members are invited to meet the finalists during a public meet and greet on Monday, August 24, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Madras City Hall, according to the announcement, which continues in full below:

The finalists are:

Jeffrey Hattersley Former Deputy Chief, Desert Hot Springs Police Department, California; and former Lieutenant, Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon

Adrian Passadore Captain, Cottage Grove Police Department, Oregon

Perry Phipps Former Chief of Police, Snoqualmie Police Department, Washington

VIEW CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHIES (PDF)

The selection of Madras’ next Police Chief represents a pivotal moment for the city, the Police Department and the community partnerships that support public safety.

The finalists are being evaluated on their law enforcement administration and operations experience, including budgeting, strategic planning, emergency management, performance management, and policy and program development, as well as their experience developing and maintaining effective community and stakeholder partnerships.

“The issues facing our Police and Code Enforcement officers are complex and require a Chief who can evaluate circumstances holistically, exercise sound judgment and make responsible decisions,” City Administrator Brenda Fahey said.

“We need a leader who prioritizes community safety and department well-being, models integrity and exemplary ethical standards, and holds the department accountable. The right Chief will pair substantial operational experience with the ability to build trust and confidence among department staff and community members, bring people together, and find workable solutions to the variety of public safety concerns facing Madras.”

The city encourages residents, business owners and community partners to attend the meet and greet, learn more about the finalists and provide feedback for consideration by the City Administrator as the selection process moves forward. Formal interviews will follow at City Hall on Tuesday, August 25.

MEET AND GREET DETAILS

Monday, August 24, 2026

5:00-6:30 p.m.

Madras City Hall

125 SW E Street

Madras, OR 97741

Topics:

Madras Government Central Oregon Crime

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Acab

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 7:18 PM

I looked into all three finalists' professional records. Most of what I found was unremarkable, but a few things seem worth the community knowing before the meet-and-greet. Perry Phipps (former chief, Snoqualmie, WA) resigned in June 2023. The City of Snoqualmie's press release presented this as a voluntary departure. Documents later obtained by the Snoqualmie Valley Record through a public records request showed he resigned at the request of the mayor, under a separation agreement giving him six months' salary — about $88,400. No reason was ever made public, and the city declined to comment. To be clear: this is a leadership change without a stated cause, not a finding of misconduct. Snoqualmie PD has had two serious misconduct scandals — a chief fired in 2025 and an officer federally convicted in 2016 — but neither occurred on Phipps's watch, and it would be unfair to attach them to him. Jeffrey Hattersley (former deputy chief, Desert Hot Springs, CA) is currently also a finalist for police chief in Gillette, Wyoming, where the meet-and-greet was held August 12. Per the résumé his recruiter provided to Gillette, he left Desert Hot Springs in May after roughly six months in the job. I found no misconduct in his 36-year record. Adrian Passadore (captain, Cottage Grove) — I found no misconduct, complaints, or litigation. Cottage Grove PD earned Oregon Accreditation Alliance accreditation in February 2026 during his tenure as captain. Fair questions for all three: Why are you leaving your current post? Is Madras your first choice? And for the council: will the background reports be shared with the public?