
Here’s how Oakland will choose its next police chief.
on October 22, 2025
As Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell prepares to leave in December, city officials will be tasked with selecting a new head for the Police Department.
The Oakland Police Commission, known as one of the strongest oversight boards in the country, will help decide who becomes the city’s next police chief. Its involvement is under scrutiny by the Oakland Police Officers Association and some residents, after some said Chief Mitchell left because the job comes with too much oversight.
“We will continue to hear the same tired narrative, that the police oversight is what made police work in Oakland impossible, and that’s furthest from the truth. OPC works in lockstep to support OPD,” Commission Chair Garcia Acosta said at the commission’s last meeting, claiming the commissioners “put countless amounts of hours into meeting with the chief and his executive staff, making sure that we’re crafting smart policies.”
The city announced in an Oct. 8 news release that Mitchell would be resigning from his position after 18 months on the job. It did not give a reason. He is the 11th chief Oakland has had in 15 years. By comparison, San Francisco has had three police chiefs over that same time period.
The Oakland Police Department has been operating under federal oversight since 2003, a response to widespread police brutality cases and scandals. No other department has been under federal scrutiny for that long.

Mitchell’s last day is Dec. 5.
“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,” he said in the new release.
Here’s a look at the process in determining who Oakland’s next chief will be.
Who selects the chief?
Unlike many major cities, the Oakland mayor is not solely responsible for picking the next police chief. The commission plays an integral role.
The commission was granted critical powers in selecting a police chief after 80% of voters passed Measure S1 in 2020. The measure granted the commission two new powers in the selection process: Upon a chief’s departure, the commission chair, currently Ricardo Garcia-Acosta, and the mayor are responsible for appointing an interim chief. The interim chief position is not meant to last more than six months. The commission is also responsible for leading the application and recruitment process by screening candidates and sending three finalists to the mayor for consideration.
Once the commission determines a list of finalists, the mayor can either choose from that list or reject the slate entirely, restarting the process.
How has the process worked?
Prior to Mitchell’s appointment in 2024, the Oakland Police Department remained without a permanent chief for over a year, from February 2023 to March 2024.
In February 2023, the commission launched a nationwide search with help from an external recruiting firm and held multiple rounds of interviews.
The commission sent its list of three nominees in December 2023 to then-Mayor Sheng Thao, who had fired former Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong the previous February, after an investigation found he had mishandled two misconduct cases. An independent arbitrator has since cleared him of those allegations, prompting renewed calls from some Oaklanders for his reinstatement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Thao rejected the commission’s list of finalists, which included Armstrong, who had been publicly lobbying for his job back. The commission then extended the search by another four months.
In April 2024, the commission held a public forum where four candidates, including Mitchell, discussed their plans for leading the department. Shortly after, Thao selected Mitchell for the role. Voters recalled Thao in November, five months after the FBI raided her home. In January, she was indicted on corruption charges. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Is anyone interested?
No candidates have publicly expressed interest in the position, though some previous city leaders have voiced support for Armstrong’s return.
“He led the OPD closer to ending federal oversight than any other police chief and had the strongest community relationships as well,” Loren Taylor, a former mayoral candidate and former council member, said on his Substack.
Armstrong’s history with OPD aside, some Oaklanders believe the previous chief also can help the police department with hiring more police officers.
“Appointing Former Chief Armstrong will enable OPD to continue its momentum in recruiting qualified officers and refining policies that best serve the public safety interests of the broader Oakland community,” Sinclair Ridley-Thomas, CEO of Black Action Alliance, said in a statement a day after Mitchell’s resignation was anounced.
Armstrong was previously backed by the NAACP, which has not publicly said if they support his return.
Where does the process stand?
The commission and the mayor’s immediate priority will be appointing an interim chief.
Justin Phillips, a spokesperson for Mayor Barbara Lee, said the mayor has met with Mitchell to discuss potential candidates. Phillips said the search is in its initial phases.
“A specific timeline has not yet been established,” Phillips said in a statement. “We are committed to conducting a thorough search while moving as efficiently as possible to provide stable leadership for the Oakland Police Department.”
Chief Mitchell resigns, offers no reason behind decision to leave OPD
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