Luke Strait Selected as Police Chief

Following a competitive recruitment process, the City of Milwaukie selected current Milwaukie Police Captain Luke Strait as the next police chief. He will replace Steve Bartol, who is set to retire on April 15.

“Stepping away from this position and moving into the next chapter of life is bittersweet, but it’s encouraging to know someone as capable as Luke is taking my place,” said Chief Bartol. “He’s an ideal fit for the department, and I’m confident they’ll accomplish great things.”

Strait has worked for the Milwaukie Police Department (MPD) for the past 23 years. During that time, he has served in a variety of roles, including patrol officer, both a general assignment detective and drug and gang detective, patrol sergeant and the operations captain. Strait has also worked on the Clackamas County SWAT team for the past seven years.

“I’m extremely honored to accept this position and for the opportunity to serve the Milwaukie community in a new capacity,” Strait said. “I’m proud to lead such a professional, service-oriented team, and for the part I can play to keep safety and livability as some of our highest priorities.”

As police chief, Strait intends to focus on cultivating partnerships and building stronger relationships between the MPD and the community. He also plans to reevaluate how the MPD’s internal processes compare to national best practices.

“This year is an opportune time to take a closer look at the agency to see if we should reevaluate our goals and objectives,” Strait said. “With the ever-changing landscape of law enforcement and evolving police culture, it’s critical that we take a moment to reflect on how we’re doing things and make the necessary adjustments.”

Over the next few months, Strait will meet with each member of his department, as well as neighborhood representatives, key community members and city staff to determine how the MPD is performing overall.

For more information about the MPD, visit www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police.