By Nick Krupke
Published: Jun. 14, 2024 at 6:54 AM PDT|Updated: 20 hours ago
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Bob Day took over as the permanent Portland Police Bureau Chief in April and his duty to serve the city he calls home will be taking him away from his other job this fall as a Pac-12 football official. FOX 12′s Nick Krupke sat down with Chief Day to discuss his two decades in the “Conference of Champions.”
Life as chief of police or head linesman in a Pac-12 football game is not for everyone, but it is for Day.
“You get 45,000 people telling you, ‘you suck!,’ after a while you’re like, ‘gosh, you know, do I?’” Day chuckled.
The David Douglas High School class of 1986 alum retired from the PPB over four years before returning to help lead the city of roses back to what it once was.
“I consider myself very fortunate. A lot of people say, ‘oh, I can’t believe you’d take that job. Why would you take this job? You’re crazy to take this job. You’re retired, why would you come back?’” said Day. “It’s just like working in the Pac-12, why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that? Yeah, you get yelled at, yeah, you get booed, yeah, this and that, but gosh, it just takes you to places and relationships and experiences that you never have otherwise.”
Day returned to police work in the fall of 2023 as the interim chief when his other gig was in full swing on the Saturday sidelines up and down the West Coast.
From the Northwest Conference to the Big Sky and the Pac-12, which was 10 when Day began working in the Conference of Champions, to now just two OSU and WSU.
“I ended this past season at Oregon with the Oregon/Oregon State game and I just stood there and thought, ‘well, if I’m going to have my last Pac game be this, this is a great one to be at,’” said Day.
Either in stripes or wearing his badge, Day does it with pride and honor.
“You are required to make these decisions in this ever-changing, fast-paced, complex human-based environments,” said Day.
Day began his officiating career 25 years ago with the Portland Football Officials Association.
“I remember calling a touchdown on the five-yard line at a junior high game and it wasn’t even on the goal line. People are looking at me, ‘what are you doing?’ I guess he had five more yards to go,” Day chuckled.
The PFOA could always use a few more good people this fall.
“It’s a way to really strengthen the community and show support and be part of this environment that’s important for the students and the fans and the parents and schools, and finally it’s a way to make a few bucks, you’re not going to get rich doing it,” said Day. “When I started, we did junior high games for $25 a game, but we also got free hot dogs at halftime and in-between games. That was clean livin’ right there, right?”
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Day’s slate is clear of calling any games in the upcoming season to focus on changing the reality in Portland.
“I hold it very loosely because this time around I’m really here by choice and I know what it’s like to not be here and it’s not too bad actually, so I’m constantly checking my own motives and success and evaluating to see where we are and if I am actually contributing,” said Day. “I don’t want to make it worse so as long as I keep moving the ball up the field in a positive way then I’ll stay around.”
Day hasn’t said no to the idea of coming back to a game down the road.
“If the Big Ten calls in 2025 and I’m still here, with the new mayor, who knows? But let’s say I’m still around and the Big Ten calls next year, can I do both? Can I work The Horseshoe [Ohio State] on a Saturday and be back in Portland on Monday? That would be really tempting to try and find that balance and to see where it is and what it is that I want to do,” said Day.
If anyone wants to meet Day and get some free hot dogs and a few dollars in their pocket, the Portland Football Officials Association is ready to have people out.
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