Resch was born in Montana, and moved to the Beaverton area early in her life.
[1] She went on to graduate from the University of Portland in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in allied health and a minor in psychology.
[2] Resch, who originally wanted to become a doctor, joined the Portland Police Bureau in 1999 in a recruiting push that hired 80 new officers.
[1] Over the next two decades, Resch rose through the ranks; she was promoted to sergeant in 2008, lieutenant in 2012, and captain in October 2016.
[3] On June 8, 2020, Resch stepped down as chief of police, handing over the position to Chuck Lovell after her handling of the George Floyd protests was met with controversy.