By Harry Harris, Shomik Mukherjee and Jakob Rodgers
Bay Area News Group
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OAKLAND — After less than two years on the job, Oakland police Chief Floyd Mitchell has told city officials he intends to resign Dec. 5, the city announced Wednesday morning.
In a news release, officials did not provide a reason for Mitchell’s resignation or specify if a search had already begun for a successor.
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“It has been an honor to serve the Oakland community, and I am grateful for the support I’ve received from the residents,” Mitchell, who was appointed in May 2024, said in a 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,” the chief added. “My commitment over the weeks ahead is to help ensure a smooth transition and continue to keep Oakland safe.”
Mitchell said he would work closely over the next several weeks with Mayor Barbara Lee and City Administrator Jestin Johnson to identify an interim chief of police to ensure the transition of leadership and the continued effective operation of the chief’s office.
In the release, Mayor Lee said, “I want to thank Chief Mitchell for his dedicated service to Oakland and his leadership during a critical time for our city. 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.
“I am grateful for Chief Mitchell’s collaboration with our administration and his focus on community-centered policing. 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.”
Johnson, the city administrator, said: “I’d like to thank Chief Mitchell for his service to the city of Oakland, and his unwavering support provided to the women and men of the Oakland Police Department. In addition, I am grateful for his leadership and contributions as a member of our executive team.”
OPD’s staffing declined during Mitchell’s tenure, falling from 716 officers ahead of his start date to just 636 sworn officers this week.
Sgt. Huy Nguyen, the head of the police officers’ union, said Wednesday he was not surprised by Mitchell’s resignation, noting the “challenging working conditions with limited resources” that faced the chief.
“I challenge the mayor and city council to change the working conditions for every rank in this police department in order to adequately serve our community,” Nguyen said.
Mitchell was hired by then-Mayor Sheng Thao, who selected the former Lubbock, Texas chief from a shortlist of candidates provided to her office by the Oakland Police Commission, a civilian-oversight body comprised of volunteers.
It was a tumultuous recruitment process, lasting nearly a year and placing Thao openly at odds with the commission — a dispute began after the former mayor had fired the previous chief, LeRonne Armstrong.
As with his predecessors, Mitchell appeared to face difficulties adjusting to the Oakland Police Department’s longstanding oversight by a federal judge and court-appointed monitoring team. In July, he defended his efforts to bring OPD to the finish line, telling U.S. District Judge William Orrick that his job had become consumed by the task.
But the departing chief also oversaw a significant decline in Oakland’s crime from the COVID-19 pandemic’s worst years. As of Oct. 5, crimes investigated as homicides had dropped by 27%, robberies by 40%, burglaries by 41% from the same period of time in 2024. And crime also leveled off last year compared to 2023.
One of the questions surrounding Mitchell’s arrival was his ability to shape up Oakland’s notoriously slow 911 response times. Local news reports in Lubbock had grilled the city police department’s handling of emergency response while Mitchell was chief.
OPD saw dramatic improvement the past year, nearly doubling the speed at which 911 calls are answered, though the department continues to struggle with timely arrival at crime scenes.
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.
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