Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell

Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell is an American law enforcement officer who currently serves as the 41st Sheriff of Multnomah County, Oregon, the county where Portland is located. She is the first woman to serve as sheriff in the county's history.

Career Morrisey O'Donnell attended the University of Portland. She started at the Sheriff's office in 1996 as a Deputy, before being promoted to lieutenant, captain, chief deputy, and undersheriff. On May 17, 2022 Morrisey O'Donnell was elected with 62% of the vote.

Multnomah County Sheriff Morrisey-O'Donnel was sworn in as Sheriff on January 4, 2023, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the county's history.

In August 2023, Morrisey-O'Donnel issued a directive clarifying that the county jail would only book suspects accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses, not those violating city ordinances. In late July 2024, when Portland Police made the first arrest under a policy restricting times and places where homeless residents could camp on public property, the sheriff's office declined to book the suspect pursuant to this directive. On August 20, 2024, Morrisey-O'Donnel agreed to begin booking people accused of violating the ordinance for a 120 day trial period while evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of the new approach.

Personal life Morrisey O'Donnell lives in Portland with her husband. She is a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Oregon.

She cites her father's near-death experience during an armed robbery as a primary reason for her choice to become a law enforcement officer.