Bob Day is the Chief of the Portland Police Bureau, sworn in as interim chief in October 2023 and confirmed as permanent chief in 2024. He joined the bureau in 1990.
Case
A Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two unarmed Venezuelan nationals in a Portland hospital parking lot on January 8, 2026. DHS says the driver weaponized his truck; charges against both were later reduced, and a bullet-removal incident drew scrutiny.
Role at the time: Portland Police Chief
Statement summary
Portland Police Chief Bob Day said the pair's possible gang association did not justify treating the federal shooting as affirmed.
“Nothing that I’ve said today should be warranted in any way to affirm whatever happened yesterday.”
Day's statement rejects the use of unrelated gang-association information as support for the shooting. Because the case asks whether the Border Patrol agent was justified, this challenges a characterization used to bolster the federal account without reaching a final legal judgment.
Statement dates: January 9, 2026
Statement dates: January 9, 2026
Statement dates: January 9, 2026
