Oakland's police misconduct watchdog has a new leader

"Oakland's Community Police Review Agency - a civilian-run bureau that investigates allegations of police misconduct - has appointed a new executive director. Antonio Lawson, who most recently served as the agency's interim executive director, officially assumed the role on Feb. 17, Police Commission Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta announced in a press release Thursday. The Community Police Review Agency, widely known as CPRA (pronounced "sip-ruh"), is the investigative arm of the Police Commission, a civilian and volunteer body tasked with overseeing the Oakland Police Department."

"CPRA investigates public complaints involving police use of force, in-custody deaths, protests, profiling, and dishonesty. Lawson joined CPRA as staff counsel in November 2024 and was named interim executive director in March 2025. He brings more than three decades of experience in civil rights and employment litigation. Lawson previously served as associate chief counsel at the California Civil Rights Department, where he was lead counsel in two sexual harassment and gender discrimination class-action lawsuits against Activision Blizzard and Riot Games."

"He brings more than three decades of experience in civil rights and employment litigation. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School, Lawson also founded Lawson Law Offices, where he handled individual and class-action civil rights and labor cases. He has argued before the California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeal, California Superior Courts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals."

Antonio Lawson assumed the role of executive director of Oakland's Community Police Review Agency (CPRA) on Feb. 17. CPRA investigates public complaints including police use of force, in-custody deaths, protests, profiling, and dishonesty. Lawson joined CPRA as staff counsel in November 2024 and served as interim executive director beginning March 2025. He brings more than three decades of civil rights and employment litigation experience, previously serving as associate chief counsel at the California Civil Rights Department and leading class-action sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuits against Activision Blizzard and Riot Games. Lawson graduated from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School and founded Lawson Law Offices.

Read at The Oaklandside