Oakland has a new permanent police chief, after more than a year since the last one was fired.
Mayor Sheng Thao on Friday announced in a news release and video the hiring of Floyd Mitchell as the city's new chief of police. Mitchell is a 30-plus-year veteran of law enforcement and is the former police chief of Lubbock, Texas, according to the mayor's office.
"Floyd Mitchell is a strong leader and smart crime fighter who delivers results," Thao said in the release. "His commitment to proven crime reduction strategies including proactive policing and strong officer-community engagement vaulted him to the top of the list. As our city’s top police officer, Chief Mitchell will join the talented public safety leadership team we have assembled and lead the law enforcement elements of Oakland’s comprehensive public safety strategy."
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Mitchell, a veteran of the United States Air Force, also previously served as a patrol officer in Kansas City and as police chief in Temple, Texas.
"As servant leaders and guardians of our city, I and the members of the Oakland Police Department have a unique opportunity to create lasting relationships and make significant impacts in the communities we serve," Mitchell said in a statement. "Our duty is to promote safety, prevent crime, and pursue justice for all we serve by collaborating and communicating with our community."
Over the past 14 months, Interim Police Chief Darren Allison has led the department, and his performance did not go unrecognized by his colleagues. Sgt. Huy Nguyen, president of the Oakland Police Officers' Association, praised Allison's leadership during the lengthy transition.
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"We deeply appreciate Chief Allison's unwavering leadership, professionalism, and tireless efforts in ensuring public safety during his tenure as Interim Chief," Nguyen said in a statement.
Oakland's last permanent police chief, LeRonne Armstrong, was fired by Thao in February 2023. Armstrong sued the city and Thao last month, alleging wrongful termination. On Friday, he released a statement on the newly named chief.
"Public safety is the most important issue in Oakland," he said in the statement. "We have a dedicated police force that now has a new leader. I send my best wishes to Floyd Mitchell and offer any assistance he may desire. This is my hometown. I want everyone to be safe and will do everything in my power, now as a private citizen, to assist in that goal."
The new chief also comes with some controversy.
He resigned as Lubbock's chief last fall after criticism of his department's response time to 911 calls. Texas department surveys also show his struggle to gain the trust of his officers.
“If he has a previous track record of not being able to speak on the politics that are affecting constituents, then is he going to do it in an even tougher city like Oakland,” said Jennifer Tran of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce.
The NAACP is also welcoming the new leadership, saying they hope the new chief takes a community focused approach.
“We do think it is important that he understands the difficulties of the job, that he will come in, be willing to work not only with the police department but in particular with the community,” said NAACP spokesperson, Bob Harris.
The Anti Police-Terror Project, who has been critical of the department for years, said their members have concerns about the new chief’s military background and some of his former policies in Texas, including a curfew for juveniles.
“People are touting his military record. We know that folks that come from the military come with a lot of stress and trauma that get compounded from being in the military to being in militarized police departments, and a lot of time that shows up as violence,” said Cat Brooks, founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project.
Incoming chief Mitchell will still have to clear certain state requirements before he can officially step into his new position. But assuming there are no issues, he is expected to formally start in late April or early May.
