John Myers
(1830 – 1900)
Chief - March 11, 1897 – June 8, 1897
(1830 – 1900)
Chief - March 11, 1897 – June 8, 1897
John Myers was born in Missouri in 1830 to a farming family. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Army and served during the Mexican-American War. At the end of the war he returned to Missouri and farmed until 1852 when he went to California to search for gold. He had moderate success as a gold miner and set himself up in a barley and hay distribution company. In the late 1850s he obtained an interest in a mine in La Grange, OR and served three years as Sheriff of Stanislaus County, CA. In 1860 he relocated to Oregon City and became active in the Democratic Party. He was elected Sheriff of Clackamas County in 1868 and served as State Senator from 1872 until 1880. He remained in Oregon City until 1888, running a general merchandise store along with his community service. In 1888 he was appointed U.S. Marshal by President Grover Cleveland and relocated to East Portland, where he built a house at SE 11th and Market. In East Portland he organized the Commercial and Savings Bank and was elected to the City Council, of which he was chairman.
During Sylvester Pennoyer’s tumultuous term as Mayor, Myers was named Police Chief to replace “Doc” Robertson. Despite his long service as sheriff and U.S. Marshal, Myers claimed no experience as a policeman. He worked aggressively to enforce saloon closure between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and campaigned against open gambling, lotteries and dancehalls. Mayor Pennoyer refused to support Myers campaign against gambling and finally removed Myers from office, after three months, because of his vocal opposition to the system of Special Police officers. Special officers were privately funded by local businesses, but fully endowed with police power. After his removal from office Myers retired from public life and died in 1900 at the age of 69.
During Sylvester Pennoyer’s tumultuous term as Mayor, Myers was named Police Chief to replace “Doc” Robertson. Despite his long service as sheriff and U.S. Marshal, Myers claimed no experience as a policeman. He worked aggressively to enforce saloon closure between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and campaigned against open gambling, lotteries and dancehalls. Mayor Pennoyer refused to support Myers campaign against gambling and finally removed Myers from office, after three months, because of his vocal opposition to the system of Special Police officers. Special officers were privately funded by local businesses, but fully endowed with police power. After his removal from office Myers retired from public life and died in 1900 at the age of 69.