Oakland Safety Leadership Shifts as Crime Persists

As Oakland makes progress to stem crime and address public safety concerns, news broke today that Police Chief Floyd Mitchell is planning to resign his post on Dec. 5 after less than two years on the job. His announcement comes after Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee in her recent State of the City address talked about positive strides the city has made in bringing down crime over the past year, and just weeks after the city approved a new, less restrictive police pursuit policy.

Mitchell’s departure comes as the city continues to face serious police staffing shortages and is working to get out from federal oversight of the police department. The Bay Area Council has been working with city and local law enforcement leaders to help address Oakland’s police staffing shortages and to implement the recommendations laid out in this year’s landmark Oakland safety report.