Multnomah Co. Sheriff's Office

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News Release

Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell Reports 50% Increase In Hiring; Applauds County Investments - 03/19/26

MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. (MCSO) – The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) increased its hiring by more than 50% in 2025 when compared to 2024.

 

Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell credited the success to county budget investments and modernized hiring practices during a briefing to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday March 17, 2026.

 

In 2025, MCSO hired 114 employees. This marks the first time since 2022 that new hires exceeded separations.

 

This positive update comes at a time when Multnomah County’s public safety system is seeing increased demands. As law enforcement agencies throughout the county increase their public safety initiatives, jail bookings have increased. In February 2026, MCSO processed 1,721 standard jail bookings, up 22% from February 2025.

 

The increase in jail bookings places additional pressure on MCSO’s Corrections Facilities Division, which has faced persistent staffing shortfalls since 2021.

 

It generally takes six months to complete the hiring process for a MCSO corrections deputy. The process includes screening applicants for minimum qualifications, assessing the eligibility, conducting background checks and interviews, and completing psychological and physical evaluations.

 

“Our corrections division is central to a well-functioning public safety system,” Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell said. “When it is not operating efficiently due to staffing shortages, it places immense strain on our law enforcement partners and impacts overall community safety.”

 

In briefing the Board of County Commissioners, the sheriff and MCSO executive staff highlighted MCSO’s Human Resources Unit as a foundational component of overall public safety.

 

“By breaking down every step of our hiring process and relying on the expertise of our staff, we have been able to focus our efforts on filling all vacancies rather than filling some at the expense of others,” said MCSO Deputy Chief of Staff Jenny Carver.

 

MCSO is now utilizing dashboards to track retirement eligibility, allowing MCSO to anticipate potential vacancies and detailed information about applicants, hires, and departures to inform its recruitment strategies.

 

In FY 2026, Multnomah County approved a budget modification for MCSO to stabilize funding for existing positions and expand the HR Unit to include the following:

  • Adding two background investigators (total of 10). 
  • Adding one recruiter (total of five).
  • Adding one HR support staff member (total of four).

“A multi-year staffing crisis cannot be reversed in a single year," Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell said. "However, the progress we have made highlights the dedication of our HR team and the support of the county. MCSO is committed to continuing this momentum to help ensure a safe and well-functioning public safety system."

 

MCSO Staffing Highlights:

  • 50% increase in overall hiring in 2025 when compared to 2024.
  • MCSO achieved a net gain of 32 staff members in 2025.
  • MCSO hired 34 corrections deputies out of 909 applicants in 2025.

MCSO Vacancy Rate:

  • Agency-wide vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%.
  • Sworn vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%, an improvement from approximately 9% in 2025.
  • Non-sworn vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%, an improvement from 12% in 2025. 

To learn more about job openings at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, visit https://www.mcso.us/careers.

 

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Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell Reports 50% Increase In Hiring; Applauds County Investments - 03/19/26

MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. (MCSO) – The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) increased its hiring by more than 50% in 2025 when compared to 2024.

 

Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell credited the success to county budget investments and modernized hiring practices during a briefing to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday March 17, 2026.

 

In 2025, MCSO hired 114 employees. This marks the first time since 2022 that new hires exceeded separations.

 

This positive update comes at a time when Multnomah County’s public safety system is seeing increased demands. As law enforcement agencies throughout the county increase their public safety initiatives, jail bookings have increased. In February 2026, MCSO processed 1,721 standard jail bookings, up 22% from February 2025.

 

The increase in jail bookings places additional pressure on MCSO’s Corrections Facilities Division, which has faced persistent staffing shortfalls since 2021.

 

It generally takes six months to complete the hiring process for a MCSO corrections deputy. The process includes screening applicants for minimum qualifications, assessing the eligibility, conducting background checks and interviews, and completing psychological and physical evaluations.

 

“Our corrections division is central to a well-functioning public safety system,” Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell said. “When it is not operating efficiently due to staffing shortages, it places immense strain on our law enforcement partners and impacts overall community safety.”

 

In briefing the Board of County Commissioners, the sheriff and MCSO executive staff highlighted MCSO’s Human Resources Unit as a foundational component of overall public safety.

 

“By breaking down every step of our hiring process and relying on the expertise of our staff, we have been able to focus our efforts on filling all vacancies rather than filling some at the expense of others,” said MCSO Deputy Chief of Staff Jenny Carver.

 

MCSO is now utilizing dashboards to track retirement eligibility, allowing MCSO to anticipate potential vacancies and detailed information about applicants, hires, and departures to inform its recruitment strategies.

 

In FY 2026, Multnomah County approved a budget modification for MCSO to stabilize funding for existing positions and expand the HR Unit to include the following:

  • Adding two background investigators (total of 10). 
  • Adding one recruiter (total of five).
  • Adding one HR support staff member (total of four).

“A multi-year staffing crisis cannot be reversed in a single year," Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell said. "However, the progress we have made highlights the dedication of our HR team and the support of the county. MCSO is committed to continuing this momentum to help ensure a safe and well-functioning public safety system."

 

MCSO Staffing Highlights:

  • 50% increase in overall hiring in 2025 when compared to 2024.
  • MCSO achieved a net gain of 32 staff members in 2025.
  • MCSO hired 34 corrections deputies out of 909 applicants in 2025.

MCSO Vacancy Rate:

  • Agency-wide vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%.
  • Sworn vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%, an improvement from approximately 9% in 2025.
  • Non-sworn vacancy rate now stands at approximately 7%, an improvement from 12% in 2025. 

To learn more about job openings at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, visit https://www.mcso.us/careers.

 

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