Portland police chief to retire amid inquiry into shooting

PORTLAND – The embattled Portland police chief has retired as authorities investigate whether he may have lied about accidentally shooting a friend in the back during an April hunting trip.

Mayor Charlie Hales said Monday that Chief Larry O’Dea offered to retire at this time of “turmoil and confusion.”

Hales says he’s disappointed by the “trial by media” and asked everyone to await the outcome of a state police investigation before passing judgment.

O’Dea initially told authorities his friend accidentally shot himself. Days later, he told Hales that he fired the shot. His involvement didn’t emerge for nearly a month, when a sheriff talked to the victim.

A deputy who interviewed O’Dea at the scene wrote in a report that he smelled of alcohol. O’Dea denied being intoxicated.

Capt. Mike Marshman has been promoted to chief.