# Chief of the Oakland Police Department

The Chief of the Oakland Police Department is an office held by the executive head and highest-ranking officer of the Oakland Police Department. The chief was first established in 1853. The chief manages and oversees the planning, development and implementation of all law enforcement and crime prevention programs for the city. They provide leadership, vision and direction to the department and its command staff and promotes collaboration, communication and coordination with other city agencies and community organizations.
Sean Whent became police chief in May 2014. He became interim chief in May 2013, replacing interim chief Anthony Toribio, who served for only two days after chief Howard Jordan left for uncited medical reasons. Howard was preceded by Anthony Batts.
Whent spent two decades on the force, joining in 1996. Oakland PD monitor Robert Warshaw forced Whent to resign due to the role of Whent (and his wife) in the coverup of a sexual-misconduct scandal involving Oakland police officers (as well as personnel from multiple other agencies) and a child sex trafficking victim.
Mayor Libby Schaaf appointed City Administrator Sabrina Landreth as head of the department on June 17, 2016, putting it under civilian control, after 3 police chiefs resigned within 9 days. The department had been under multiple investigations at the time of the appointment. On January 4, 2017, Schaaf appointed Anne Kirkpatrick to serve as the next police chief. Kirkpatrick officially assumed office after being sworn in on February 27. On February 15, 2023, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announced plans to fire the city's current police chief LeRonne Armstrong.
On March 27, 2024, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao introduced Floyd Mitchell as the city's newest chief of police, more than a year after the firing of former Chief LeRonne Armstrong. He took office on May 13, 2024.

## List of Oakland police chiefs

* Acting/interim chief
Chiefs of the Oakland Police Department :
| Image | Name | Tenure start | Tenure end | Notes |
| — | Joseph Samuels | 1993 | 1999 | |
| — | Richard Word | 1999 | 2004 | |
| — | Wayne Tucker | 2004 | 2009 | |
| | Anthony Batts | October 19, 2009 | October 13, 2011 | |
| | Howard Jordan | October 13, 2011 | May 8, 2013 | |
| — | Anthony Toribio* | May 8, 2013 | May 10, 2013 | |
| | Sean Whent | May 10, 2013 | June 10, 2016 | Acting until May 2014. Forced to resign; see Oakland Police Department § Resignation of three chiefs and civilian control (2016) |
| — | Ben Fairow* | June 10, 2016 | June 15, 2016 | See Oakland Police Department § Resignation of three chiefs and civilian control (2016) |
| — | Paul Figueroa* | June 15, 2016 | June 18, 2016 | See Oakland Police Department § Resignation of three chiefs and civilian control (2016) |
| — | Sabrina Landreth | June 18, 2016 | January 4, 2017 | See Oakland Police Department § Resignation of three chiefs and civilian control (2016) |
| | Anne Kirkpatrick | January 4, 2017 | February 20, 2020 | Fired; see Oakland Police Department § Firing of Anne Kirkpatrick (2020) |
| | Darren Allison* | February 20, 2020 | April 6, 2020 | |
| | Susan Manheimer* | April 6, 2020 | February 7, 2021 | |
| | LeRonne Armstrong | February 7, 2021 | February 15, 2023 | Fired |
| | Darren Allison* | February 15, 2023 | May 11, 2024 | |
| | Floyd Mitchell | May 11, 2024 | Incumbent | Officially entered office on May 11, 2024, began on May 13 |