BOISE, Idaho — Ryan Lee says the Boise Police Department has a strong track record of community policing and its top priority for him to build on those successes when he takes over next month as the city's chief of police.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean introduced Lee to the community during a Zoom press conference Wednesday afternoon. This comes after the Boise City Council confirmed Lee's appointment at its meeting Tuesday night.
Lee said Boise is the right fit for him and his family.
"It just felt like a calling," Lee said. "It was the right opportunity, the right place, the right time in my life. I couldn't say no."
Lee worked in Portland for nearly two decades, rising through the ranks from officer to assistant chief. In announcing her pick, McLean said the new chief mentored at-risk youth and served on the boards of multiple non-profit agencies in Portland, and is committed to building community partnerships in Boise as well.
Lee is also a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, holds a Master of Criminal Justice degree from Boston University, and has served as a national subject matter expert in policing large-scale public events. The mayor's office says he has a background in homeland security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as "a long history of studying human rights and building police-community relationships."
Watch the full press conference here on our YouTube channel:
As Lee prepares to begin his new job, his old department is under fire for its handling of ongoing protests in the city.
On Monday, Portland Police Chief Jami Resch stepped down.
Demonstrators held two peaceful George Floyd protests in Portland on Sunday, but a third one that lasted until early this morning resulted in at least 20 arrests, with some demonstrators throwing objects at police, who fired tear gas and sponge-tipped projectiles.
Resch said Monday that she had asked Charlie Lovell, an African American lieutenant, to serve as the next chief of police of Oregon’s largest city.
Lee will begin his new post in Boise on July 1st.