Oakland police on track to exit federal oversight by September

Oakland Police Department progress toward reform reached a milestone after 23 years of federal court oversight. A federal monitor reported that OPD complied for the first time with all 51 court-mandated reforms tied to a 2000 police brutality and corruption case. Judge William Orrick used a sports analogy, comparing the department’s long-term reform to building a Major League Baseball franchise that requires infrastructure, leadership, and development through minor leagues. He expressed optimism that city leaders remain committed to constitutional policing. Participants in a hearing also showed hope that federal oversight may be nearing its end, while acknowledging remaining work to maintain compliance with requirements from the 2003 Negotiated Settlement Agreement resolving the Riders lawsuit.

"For the first time, OPD had complied with all 51 court-mandated reforms stemming from a 2000 police brutality and corruption case. Finding comparisons to plays, like a touchdown, or scenarios, like being five yards from the goalline in football, unsatisfactory, Orrick zoomed out. He compared OPD's progress in finally achieving its court-mandated reforms not to a single play or moment in a game, but rather to building a Major League Baseball franchise."

"“You have to have the infrastructure, the building, the leadership,” he said to a packed courtroom inside the San Francisco federal courthouse. “You've got to have the guys in the minor league who are coming up to the majors, and then making the hard decisions.” Orrick signaled optimism that Oakland's leaders, from Mayor Barbara Lee to the city's Interim Police Chief James Beere, are committed to constitutional policing."

"“I hope to see this proud franchise continue,” he said, continuing the baseball metaphor. During Wednesday's light-hearted hearing, OPD leaders, city staff, attorneys, and residents also appeared hopeful that the department's federal oversight is nearing its end. But many acknowledged there's still work left to do to ensure OPD remains compliant with the tasks mandated by the Negotiated Settlement Agreement, the deal Oakland struck in 2003 to settle the Riders lawsuit."

Read at The Oaklandside