City Government

Fired Police Chief Kirkpatrick Was “Backsliding” on OPD Reforms, Say Poice Accountability Leaders

Published

5 years ago

February 27, 2020

The seemingly sudden firing of Oakland Police Dept. Chief Anne Kirkpatrick on Feb. 20, 2020, without a publicly stated reason initially left some Oaklanders wondering how and why it happened.

Though some of the news reports at first seemed confused, it has become clear that Mayor Libby Schaaf fired Kirkpatrick, that the Police Commisison concurred and tht there were specific reasons.

“My decision …was extremely personally difficult for me, but I made it because I believe it was in the best interest of Oakland,” said Schaaf in a televised interview, speaking at a Police Academy graduation ceremony on Feb. 21.

In an interview on KPIX after the firing, Commission Chair Regina Jackson said, “The commission voted unanimously to support the mayor’s termination of the chief, without cause … It was the mayor’s decision.”
Jackson said the commission originally talked to the mayor in the week before the decision was made to terminate the chief, “and we worked together on this final determination.”

Under the law, the commission does not have the authority to terminate the chief without telling the public why. Section 604 of the City Charter clearly states: “The Commission may remove the Chief of Police only after adopting a finding or findings of cause.”
While the mayor’s decision has kept the causes from being revealed, observers of the Police Commission’s work say that it has been meeting in closed session for months about its concerns about Kirkpatrick, which are serious and well known.

“There was nothing dramatic or sudden about this decision,” said Rashidah Grinage of the Coalition for Police Accountability. “Anyone paying attention would not have been surprised at this outcome. All of it was factually based and well documented,” including in reports by the federally appointed monitor and statements from plaintiff’s attorneys who are involved in the federal oversight of the Police Department.

Grinage suggested a reason why Schaaf fired Kirkpatrick without cause. “(Schaaf) did an end run around the commission’s decision because it reflects badly on the mayor,” said Grinage. “The record would have shown that her admiration for this chief was badly misplaced.”

The failure of the Oakland Police Department to comply with the reform tasks required by the federal court for 17 years was a major issue as well. When Kirkpatrick took over the helm at OPD, the department had three reforms left to complete. Under her watch, five additional tasks had gone out of compliance.

Civil rights attorney James Chanin, who is involved in monitoring the reforms, told KPIX: “This problem with the backsliding on tasks was very bad and ultimately unacceptable not only to me but more importantly to the Police Commission and the mayor.”
The Police Commission also disagreed with Kirkpatrick’s support of four officers who shot and killed Joshua Pawlik, a 32-year-old homeless man, in March 2018.

Pawlik was found asleep in an alley and was shot when he woke up.
Federal monitor Warshaw said OPD investigators took the officers words at face value, and he recommended more severe punishments for all but one of the officers. He said Kirkpatrick’s assessment of the event was “both disappointing and myopic,” according to a report on KTVU Channel 2.

In another scandal, it was revealed that while OPD was taking credit for a dramatic decline in officers’ use of force in recent years, an internal audit released in August 2019 found that in a number of cases officers failed to report drawing their firearms on someone or tackling them.

OPD’s Office of Inspector General examined 47 encounters in 2018. The report found that officers failed to fill out a use-of-force form when they should have for 17 incidents. Officers pointed a firearm in 12 of those cases and used techniques such as “leg sweeps,” “takedowns” and “control holds” in five cases.

Kirkpatrick, however, blamed the Police Commission for her termination, citing its attitude toward her.
“I was hired prior to the Police Commission’s start-up,” she told NBC-News Bay Area. “I’m not from Oakland. I think that is very important to them. And I’m not a person of color. And I think that has been very important to them.”

Since then, Kirkpatrick has hired high-powered public relations professional Sam Singer, who represented Wedgewood Inc. in the real estate giant’s fight with Moms 4 Housing and is calling for a Department of Justice investigation. She told KPIX that she felt blindsided.
Singer has released a statement on Kirkpatrick’s behalf saying she was fired because she had refused to fix tickets for a police commissioner.

However, observers note that at least four complaints had been filed against the police commissioner with the city’s Public Ethics Commission, which exonerated the commissioner in all the cases.

Said Post Publisher Paul Cobb, “Mayor Schaaf’s spasmodic vindictive firing of Kirkpatrick managed to mislead us again as she misled us on the OPD sex scandal by misdirectingour attention to a few black officers accused of ‘sexting.’ At some point community policing requires us to get along with our police. The Mayor’s missteps are misleading us.”

Ken Epstein

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Related Topics:Chief Anne Kirkpatrick City of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf Oakland Oakland Police Department OPD Politics

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org

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BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year/Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember At-Large, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff. Courtesy photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles. Charles served as mistress of ceremonies.

With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.

“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA founding member and State president.

“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods-Jones.

This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”

Other awardees included:

Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.

BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.

In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.”

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State executive director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”