PENDLETON, Ore.-Leadership within the City of Pendleton and the Pendleton Police Department will look a little different in 2026.
Pendleton PD Chief Charles Byram will transition to a new role as City Manager, Lieutenant Tony Nelson will be promoted to Chief, and longtime City Attorney Nancy Kerns is retiring.
“Each of these changes has a practical application, but they are also about confidence and service,” Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett said. “We honor the tremendous service of Nancy Kerns, recognize both Chief Byram’s and Lt. Nelson’s service in law enforcement, and look forward to the future with confidence.”
Chief Byram has been with Pendleton PD since 2000, serving in several roles, including field training supervisor, drug recognition expert, standardized field sobriety test instructor, clandestine lab site safety officer and SWAT team member.
Byram has served as Chief since 2020 and will transition into the newly created Assistant City Manager position on March 31.
“I look forward to the new challenge while still serving the City I am proud to call home,” Byram said
According to the City of Pendleton, Byram will focus on implementing long-term plans, coordinating day-to-day work across departments, and supporting organizational efficiency and continuity, as he supports City Manager Corbett with the administration of city operations.
Lieutenant Nelson, who has also been with Pendleton PD since 2000, will be promoted to Chief when Byram transitions into his new position.
“I recognize Chief Byram’s tremendous service in law enforcement, and I am confident in his ability to transition into this new role, as well as in Lt. Nelson’s ability as the incoming chief to carry forward the high standards established by the Pendleton Police Department,” City Manager Robb Corbett said.
Nelson, the current Operations Lieutenant, is a member of the SWAT team and a defensive tactics and confrontational simulation instructor. According to the City of Pendleton, he is also an active member of the community and coaches the Pendleton High School swim team.
Kerns, who has served as City Attorney since 2011, will also retire on March 31.
After coming to Pendleton from Klamath Falls in 1986, Kerns served as a deputy district attorney for Umatilla County before running her own private legal practice for many years.
Kerns became the assistant city attorney for the City of Pendleton in 2006, before being promoted to city attorney in 2011, becoming the first woman in Pendleton history to hold the position, according to the City.
