Chief of the Oakland Police Department
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.
| Oakland Chief of Police | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Darren Allison (Acting Chief) since February 15, 2023 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Formation | 1853 |
| Website | Official Website |
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]
List of Oakland police chiefs
| Joseph Samuels | 1993-1999 |
| Richard Word | 1999-2004 |
| Wayne Tucker | 2004–2009 |
| Anthony Batts | October 19, 2009 – October 13, 2011 |
| Howard Jordan | October 13, 2011 – May 8, 2013 |
| Anthony Toribio (Interim Chief) | May 8, 2013 – May 10, 2013 |
| Sean Whent | May 10, 2013 – June 10, 2016 |
| Ben Fairow (Interim Chief) | June 10, 2016 – June 15, 2016[11] |
| Paul Figueroa (Interim Chief) | June 15, 2016 – June 18, 2016[12] |
| Sabrina Landreth (City Administrator) | June 18, 2016 – January 4, 2017[13] |
| Anne Kirkpatrick | January 4, 2017 to February 21, 2020 |
| Darren Allison (Acting Chief) | February 21, 2020 - April 6, 2020 |
| Susan Manheimer (Interim Chief) | April 6, 2020 - February 8, 2021 |
| LeRonne Armstrong | February 8, 2021 – February 15, 2023 |
| Darren Allison (Acting Chief) | February 15, 2023 - Present |
References
- Will Kane (2014-05-15). "Sean Whent named permanent Oakland police chief". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Matthew Artz (2013-05-10). "Interim Police Chief Toribio out just two days after appointment". Oakland Tribune.
- Matthew Artz (2013-05-08). "Police Chief Howard Jordan announces medical retirement". Oakland Tribune.
- "Sean Whent named permanent Oakland police chief". 14 May 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 12 June 2016. Retrieved 14 Jun 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 (18 June 2016). "Oakland loses third police chief in nine days, will operate under civilian control". Los Angeles Times.
- Mettler, Katie (5 January 2017). "Introducing Anne Kirkpatrick, just hired to fix Oakland's 'frat house' police department". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 January 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 (2023-02-15). "Oakland police chief fired after alleged cover-up of officer misconduct: 'Significant cultural problems'". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
- 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.