Chief of the Oakland Police Department
 | This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (June 2024) |
| Oakland Chief of Police | |
|---|---|
| Style | The Honorable |
| Formation | 1853 |
| Website | Official Website |
The Chief of the Oakland Police Department is an office held by the executive head and highest-ranking officer of the Oakland Police Department. The chief was first established in 1853. The chief manages and oversees the planning, development and implementation of all law enforcement and crime prevention programs for the City. She provides leadership, vision and direction to the Department and its command staff and promotes collaboration, communication and coordination with other city agencies and community organizations.
Sean Whent became police chief in May 2014.[1] He became interim chief in May 2013,[2] replacing interim chief Anthony Toribio, who served for only two days after chief Howard Jordan left for uncited medical reasons.[3] Howard was preceded by Anthony Batts.
Whent spent two decades on the force, joining in 1996.[4] Oakland PD monitor Robert Warshaw forced Whent to resign due to the role of Whent (and his wife) in the coverup of a sexual-misconduct scandal involving Oakland police officers (as well as personnel from multiple other agencies) and a child sex trafficking victim.[5]
Mayor Libby Schaaf appointed City Administrator Sabrina Landreth as head of the department on June 17, 2016, putting it under civilian control, after 3 police chiefs resigned within 9 days. The department had been under multiple investigations at the time of the appointment.[6] On January 4, 2017, Schaaf appointed Anne Kirkpatrick to serve as the next police chief.[7] Kirkpatrick officially assumed office after being sworn in on February 27.[8] On February 15, 2023, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announced plans to fire the city's current police chief LeRonne Armstrong.[9][10]
On March 27, 2024, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao introduced Floyd Mitchell as the city's newest chief of police, more than a year after the firing of former Chief LeRonne Armstrong. He took office on May 13, 2024.
List of Oakland police chiefs[edit]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2024) |
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| † | Acting/interim chief |
| Image | Name | Tenure start | Tenure end | Notes | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Joseph Samuels | 1993 | 1999 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Richard Word | 1999 | 2004 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Wayne Tucker | 2004 | 2009 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Anthony Batts | October 19, 2009 | October 13, 2011 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Howard Jordan | October 13, 2011 | May 8, 2013 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Anthony Toribio† | May 8, 2013 | May 10, 2013 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Sean Whent | May 10, 2013 | June 10, 2016 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Ben Fairow† | June 10, 2016 | June 15, 2016 | [11] | |
| — | Paul Figueroa† | June 15, 2016 | June 18, 2016 | [12] | |
| — | Sabrina Landreth | June 18, 2016 | January 4, 2017[citation needed] | City administrator who served as head of the department while under civilian control; see Oakland Police Department § Resignation of three chiefs and civilian control (2016) | [13] |
 |
Anne Kirkpatrick | January 4, 2017 | February 21, 2020 | Fired; see Oakland Police Department § Firing of Anne Kirkpatrick (2020) | [citation needed] |
| — | Darren Allison† | February 21, 2020 | April 6, 2020 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Susan Manheimer† | April 6, 2020 | February 8, 2021 | [citation needed] | |
| — | LeRonne Armstrong | February 8, 2021 | February 15, 2023 | [citation needed] | |
| — | Darren Allison† | February 15, 2023 | May 13, 2024 | [citation needed] | |
 |
Floyd Mitchell | May 13, 2024 | Incumbent | [citation needed] |
References[edit]
- ^ Will Kane (May 15, 2014). "Sean Whent named permanent Oakland police chief". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Matthew Artz (May 10, 2013). "Interim Police Chief Toribio out just two days after appointment". Oakland Tribune.
- ^ Matthew Artz (May 8, 2013). "Police Chief Howard Jordan announces medical retirement". Oakland Tribune.
- ^ "Sean Whent named permanent Oakland police chief". May 14, 2014.
- ^ BondGraham, Darwin; Winston, Ali (June 10, 2016). "The Real Reason Why Oakland's Police Chief Was Fired". East Bay Express. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
Despite the mayor's claims, multiple city sources say Whent was forced out by Independent Police Monitor Robert Warshaw, who is responsible for overseeing OPD's progress with its 13-year-old federal reforms, and who hand-selected Whent to run the department in 2014.
- ^ Queally, James (June 18, 2016). "Oakland loses third police chief in nine days, will operate under civilian control". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Mettler, Katie (January 5, 2017). "Introducing Anne Kirkpatrick, just hired to fix Oakland's 'frat house' police department". Washington Post. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ "Kirkpatrick officially sworn in as Oakland's new police chief". KRON-TV. February 27, 2017.
- ^ "Statement from Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addressing leadership at the Oakland Police Department". Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- ^ Pritchett, Elizabeth (February 15, 2023). "Oakland police chief fired after alleged cover-up of officer misconduct: 'Significant cultural problems'". Fox News. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ James Queally (June 15, 2016). "Oakland replaces interim police chief six days after his appointment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ^ "MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF ANNOUNCES REMOVAL OF INTERIM POLICE CHIEF BEN FAIROW" (PDF). Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ^ James Queally (June 18, 2016). "Oakland loses third police chief in nine days, will operate under civilian control". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
External links[edit]
- Chief of Police on Oakland Wiki