Chief Mitchell resigns, offers no reason behind decision to leave OPD

Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell resigned Wednesday morning, 18 months after being hired. In a statement on its website, the city said he will step down on Dec. 5.

“It has been an honor to serve the Oakland community, and I am grateful for the support I’ve received from the residents,” Mitchell said in the statement. “I’m incredibly proud of the men and women of this Department and the collaborative working relationships forged with the community and business owners to reduce crime. My commitment over the weeks ahead is to help ensure a smooth transition and continue to keep Oakland safe.”

The statement did not say why Mitchell is leaving and he has not addressed the question in published reports. The Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. 

Mitchell is Oakland’s 12th police chief, or acting chief, since 2000 — the third permanent chief since 2020. His two predecessors were both fired. His appointment followed more than a year of no permanent police chief in Oakland.

Oakland Police Officers Association President Huy Nguyen, in a statement, described Mitchell as “an honest, hard-working cop.” He said officers were concerned that the high turnover of chiefs would make it harder to interest a qualified person in the job.

“This latest resignation of Chief Mitchell underscores the need for those who lead our city to support our department with vision and purpose,” Nguyen said. “The OPOA calls on the Mayor and City Council to finally confront the dysfunction that has crippled the effectiveness of OPD for years.”

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Mitchell came to Oakland from Lubbock, Texas, where he was chief. He was appointed by former Mayor Sheng Thao, whom voters recalled in November amid an FBI investigation that would later lead to her indictment on corruption charges.

Hired at an annual salary of $365,100, Mitchell was tasked to lead a department that has had a revolving door of top cops and has been under federal oversight for more than two decades. Under his leadership, robberies decreased by about 40% and homicides fell by about 21%, according to Police Department data.

Recently, he got the Police Commission on board for a policy change that will loosen Oakland’s rules on police chases, allowing officers to start a car chase without prior approval from a supervisor and to exceed 50 mph in those pursuits.

“Under his tenure, we have seen significant reductions in crime — a testament to his commitment to public safety and the hard work of our police officers,” Mayor Barbara Lee said in the city’s posted statement. “The women and men of the Oakland Police Department have my full support as we work together to ensure a smooth transition and continue building on the progress we’ve made for Oakland’s residents.”

Ansel Troy, of East Oakland, isn’t convinced that the crime rate has gone down. “The data reflects what’s reported, not what’s happening,” he said. “In cities like Oakland, especially in East and West Oakland, countless residents no longer bother calling the police because they don’t expect a response.”

Myron Byrd, who lives in the Lake Merritt neighborhood, blamed crime rates on the system.

“The police here are so lenient on the criminals. You do something, and you can bail yourself right out,” he said. “You just killed someone, and they give you a bail. In some countries, they are not so lenient. You get what you deserve.”

Byrd hopes the next chief will be a veteran of the department, someone “who knows the Bay Area inside and out, instead of bringing in a chief from another county.”

Over the next several weeks, Mitchell will be working with Lee and City Administrator Jestin Johnson to identify an interim chief.

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