New police chief Floyd Mitchell takes over OPD
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Oakland’s new police chief is officially taking over the Oakland Police Department.
This comes more than a year after the firing of LeRonne Armstrong and at a time when the city is facing some positive signs of lower crime rates – but still seeing problems.
Oakland police Chief Floyd Mitchell was meeting and greeting members of the department Monday at OPD headquarters. Mitchell was shown on the job tackling tasks including going over crime statistics.
“I will get familiar with all of these,” Mitchell said.
Only one news camera was allowed in and no questions were permitted.
Mitchell last worked in Lubbock, Texas, where he was chief.
Mitchell said his top goals coming into the department are building public trust and a safer community. In a brief statement at Monday’s event, he said, “I look forward to meeting the community.”
OPD remains under the supervision of a federal court-appointed monitor since the “Riders” case in 2003 in which a group of officers was exposed for beating and framing mostly Black Oakland residents.
Chief Mitchell said he wants to complete the tasks set forth by the monitor so that chapter can be closed. Mitchell is the 12th chief in Oakland in the last decade.
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