A leadership transition is underway at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training as the agency prepares to welcome a new deputy director this fall while also recognizing the service of the official departing the position next month.
DPSST Director Phil Castle announced that Marcia Harnden, the current chief of police for the City of Albany, has been selected to serve as the agency’s next deputy director. Harnden is scheduled to begin her new role in September, following the resignation of Deputy Director Kathy McAlpine, whose final day with the agency will be Aug. 14.
The appointment places a veteran law enforcement executive with decades of policing and leadership experience into one of Oregon’s most influential public safety training and certification positions. As deputy director, Harnden will help oversee the agency responsible for establishing statewide standards, certification requirements and professional training for thousands of public safety professionals across Oregon.
Harnden has led the Albany Police Department since 2020 and has remained active in statewide and regional public safety organizations throughout her tenure. She previously served as president of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and currently serves as its immediate past president. She also serves on the executive board of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and helped establish the Northwest Women’s Law Enforcement Network as one of its founding members.
Before arriving in Oregon, Harnden spent 25 years with the Bellevue Police Department in Washington. During that time she advanced through a variety of leadership assignments before retiring at the rank of captain, bringing extensive experience in police administration, organizational leadership and officer development.
Announcing the appointment, Castle said Harnden’s experience aligns closely with the agency’s long-term priorities.
“Marcia has a passion for training, a proven commitment to employee wellness, and a thoughtful and caring leadership style,” Castle said. “She is the ideal candidate to continue guiding DPSST’s mission, and I am thrilled to welcome her as our next deputy director.”
The leadership transition also marks the departure of McAlpine after a relatively brief but significant tenure with the department. She joined DPSST in January 2024 as director of the Professional Standards Division before being promoted to deputy director one year later.
Prior to joining the state agency, McAlpine served six years as chief of police for the Tigard Police Department and spent more than three decades with the Tacoma Police Department in Washington, where she built an extensive career in law enforcement leadership.
McAlpine is leaving Oregon to become chief operating officer for South Sound 911 in Tacoma, an organization that provides regional emergency communications and public safety technology services.
Castle credited McAlpine with helping strengthen the agency during a period of continued emphasis on training, accountability and professional development.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation to Kathy for being the best deputy and partner I could have asked for,” Castle said. “Her work ethic and dedication to our mission are second to none, and she has made a monumental impact at DPSST.”
During the transition period between McAlpine’s departure and Harnden’s arrival, Castle will assume the responsibilities of the deputy director in addition to his duties as agency director.
The deputy director serves a critical leadership role within DPSST, assisting in the administration of Oregon’s statewide public safety training system while helping oversee certification standards and agency operations.
For communities across Oregon, the work of DPSST extends well beyond the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. The agency establishes certification and licensing standards for police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, emergency telecommunicators, medical dispatchers, regulatory specialists, criminal justice instructors, private security professionals, private investigators, fire service personnel and polygraph examiners.
In partnership with public safety agencies throughout the state, DPSST also develops and delivers basic academy instruction, advanced leadership programs and specialized professional training both at its Salem campus and through regional training opportunities serving local communities.
Harnden’s appointment comes as public safety agencies across Oregon continue placing increased emphasis on leadership development, officer wellness, professional accountability and consistent statewide training standards. With decades of executive law enforcement experience spanning two states and an extensive record of involvement in statewide policing organizations, she is expected to help guide DPSST as it continues preparing and certifying the next generation of Oregon’s public safety professionals while supporting the ongoing development of those already serving communities across the state.