Patrick J. Barry
(1860 – 1898)
Chief - June 9, 1897 – June 15, 1898
(1860 – 1898)
Chief - June 9, 1897 – June 15, 1898
Patrick Joseph Barry was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1860. There is no record of when he came to the United States, but he worked as a private detective in St Louis, MO before relocating to Portland around 1889. Barry continued to work as a private detective in Portland for about three years, going undercover in Roslyn, WA during a mining strike. Barry joined the Portland police as a patrolman about 1893. Mayor Sylvester Pennoyer’s tumultuous term as Mayor, which saw five Chiefs of Police in two years, provided great opportunities for advancement, at least for Democrats. Barry rose from the foot patrol to Captain by 1896 and was named Police Chief ten months later when John Myers was fired.
Barry was an active and aggressive Police Chief, taking the lead in a train robbery investigation and the murder of Mike Gorman. Despite Barry’s active police work the force was described as “demoralized” and “without a head.” This was due more to interference from the Mayor and the Police Commissioners than to Barry’s abilities. Less than ten months into his term as Chief, Barry was diagnosed with Bright’s Disease. His failing health made him unable to serve as Chief and Michael Clohessy served as acting Chief for nearly a year before Barry’s death, at the age of 38, in 1898.
Barry was an active and aggressive Police Chief, taking the lead in a train robbery investigation and the murder of Mike Gorman. Despite Barry’s active police work the force was described as “demoralized” and “without a head.” This was due more to interference from the Mayor and the Police Commissioners than to Barry’s abilities. Less than ten months into his term as Chief, Barry was diagnosed with Bright’s Disease. His failing health made him unable to serve as Chief and Michael Clohessy served as acting Chief for nearly a year before Barry’s death, at the age of 38, in 1898.