"Mitchell arrives in the city just months after leading the Oakland Police Department in a remarkably short and somewhat uneventful tenure. His decision to leave the agency after just a year and a half on the job added to a staggering list of police chiefs who served short stints at the Oakland Police Department, which has operated under federal court oversight for more than 20 years."
"In that time, Mitchell oversaw a department that struggled with staffing amid city budget woes and longstanding problems recruiting and retaining talent. The force had 636 officers when Mitchell announced his departure from the city in early October, 80 fewer than when he arrived. Still, crime in Oakland declined significantly during his tenure, following a nationwide trend of dropping crime rates following a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic."
"Response times for 911 calls also improved dramatically, with officers doubling the speed with which they answered calls for service. In one of Mitchell's last acts on the job, the chief won approval from the Oakland Police Commission for his department's officers to initial pursuits exceeding 50 mph without first getting their supervisor's approval. The move marked a significant victory for the chief, given longstanding resistance by OPD's critics to changing the pursuit policy."
Floyd Mitchell will head Fremont's police force, ending a monthslong search after Sean Washington's June 2025 retirement. Mitchell leaves Oakland after about a year and a half as chief during a period when the department operated under federal court oversight for more than 20 years. The Oakland force faced staffing shortfalls amid budget woes and recruiting and retention problems, dropping to 636 officers by Mitchell's departure, 80 fewer than at his arrival. Crime in Oakland declined significantly during his tenure, response times for 911 calls improved markedly, and Mitchell secured approval to allow officers to initiate high-speed pursuits over 50 mph without prior supervisor sign-off.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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