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OPD Makes Significant Progress, But City Still Fails to Punish Police Misconduct

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The Oakland Police Department is continuing to make significant progress on the reforms required by Federal Judge Thelton Henderson as part of the Negotiated Settlement Agreement (NSA) that came out of the infamous “Riders” police abuse case 11 years ago.

However, the court is raising serious concerns and has begun an inquiry into the city’s failure to discipline officers who are found guilty of serious misconduct, according to the Oct. 30 report of Independent Monitor Robert Warshaw.

 

During a recent visit to Oakland, Warshaw wrote, “The court expressed its dismay with the recent reinstatement of an officer whom Chief (Sean) Whent had terminated, and with the city’s poor performance in other recent arbitrations – several of which also overturned terminations of officers who had been sustained for serious misconduct.”

Warshaw questioned “whether defendants are adequately preparing cases for arbitration such that consistency of discipline can be assured to the greatest extent possible.”

While emphasizing seriousness of the failure to discipline officers, he also praised the improvements OPD has made with the backing of the police chief, city administrator and mayor.

“The department has benefitted from the leadership of Chief Sean Whent, whose commitment to the NSA and the future of the agency has been unwavering, “ he said.

“Mayor Jean Quan’s support – and that of interim City Administrator Henry Gardner – has been an essential ingredient in the advances the department has made.”

Warshaw noted the two cases in particular raised concerns over the city’s handling of police discipline.

“One case involved a captain who struck a person twice after he had received a Taser shock and was lying on the ground,” Warshaw wrote.

“In addition, in clear violation of OPD policies for reviewing such videos, the captain obtained a copy of the (body camera) video of the incident that had been generated by another officer.”

The discipline originally recommended was demotion to rank of lieutenant. But a pre-disciplinary hearing handled by a retired police chief recommended that the captain should receive counseling but no other discipline.

Sean Whent

Sean Whent

Chief Whent considered the hearing result but ordered a 10-day suspension. “(However), the City Administrator overruled the chief and approved only counseling,” Warshaw wrote.

“The result of this case was that a senior command officer – who should be expected to be a leader in proper use of force – received less discipline than his subordinates would expect if they did the same thing,” he wrote. “ As a senior commander, he should be expected to perform at a higher level than his subordinates.”

A second case involved “an officer who tossed a flash-bang grenade into a crowd of people trying to help a citizen who was lying in the street after being shot in the head and injured by a beanbag round during an Occupy Oakland demonstration.

“Tossing the grenade into their midst had no legitimate police purpose – and could only have been a malicious act intended to frighten or scare the people trying to help the man,” wrote Warshaw.

“The officer was appropriately terminated by OPD and city, but the arbitration hearing resulted in an order that the officer be reinstated,” he wrote.

“The system clearly failed to produce a proper result, and it cannot be said that discipline is consistently imposed.”

 

Warshaw noted, “ Both cases were appropriately handled within the department.

“The City of Oakland, however, failed in both.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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IN MEMORIAM: Nate Holden, State Senator and Longtime Los Angeles Councilmember, Dies at 95

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.” Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.

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Former Los Angeles Councilmember and California State Sen. Nate Holden. File photo.
Former Los Angeles Councilmember and California State Sen. Nate Holden. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, a prominent figure in the city’s politics, passed away at the age of 95, his family confirmed on May 7.

Holden, who represented South Los Angeles for 16 years on the City Council and served one term in the California State Senate, was widely regarded as a forceful advocate for his community.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.”

Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.

Holden’s journey to political prominence began in the segregated South, where he was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1929. He often recalled the childhood moment when he first heard the governor of Georgia vowing to continue suppressing Black people.

“Doing the best you can for the people. Law and order. Make sure that people’s communities are safe. I did it all,” said Holden, reflecting on his legacy.

Holden is survived by his sons, including former California Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represented a district in Southern California that includes Pasadena and Altadena in Los Angeles County and cities in San Bernardino County.

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