Chief Deputy Ryan Murphy was hired as Columbia County's Chief Deputy in June of 2019 following an exhaustive search for the ideal candidate. He lives in the county in Rainier, Oregon with his wife and teenage son. 

Murphy holds and maintains his Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management and Executive police certificates through the State of Oregon DPSST, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice from Washington State University, and is a graduate of the Oregon State Sheriff's Association Command College. 

Murphy began his law enforcement career as a Washington State University Police Intern while attending college. He went on to work for the Portland Police Bureau in a non-sworn position for five years, before being hired by the City of Rainier Police Department in 2002, where he worked as a full-time officer.