Oakland Mayor Readies For Post-Batts Era

Oakland's new mayor Jean Quan said Monday that she is already making preparations for a search for a new police chief, just in case Anthony Batts gets a job offer from San Jose.

Quan issued a statement Monday morning that said Batts told her last week he had agreed to be considered for the San Jose police chief job.

"Should Chief Batts be chosen and decide to leave, I will immediately appoint an interim chief and conduct a national search for a new chief," Quan said.

Word got out this weekend that Batts was one of two finalists for the position left empty when former chief Rob Davis left in November. On Monday, Batts told reporters that San Jose approached him about the job and that he did not seek it out.

The other finalist for San Jose is a veteran of the San Jose force named Chris Moore, who is currently serving as the interim chief. Before the Chronicle posted the finalists, city leaders in San Jose had kept the list private.

Batts has led the Oakland department for just over a year, taking over the post in late 2009. He has overseen a drop in serious crime, as well as a shrinking of the force due to city budget woes.

For the first time since 2005, Oakland had fewer than 100 homicides in the 2010 calendar year.

San Jose had 20 homicides in 2010.

A decision is expected to be made on the San Jose job in the next few weeks.

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