For the first time in more than two decades, the Oakland Police Department is closer than ever to ending federal court oversight.
A federal monitor announced the department has now completed all 51 reforms required under its negotiated settlement agreement tied to the “Oakland Riders” police misconduct scandal.
The court-ordered reforms have kept OPD under federal oversight for the past 23 years.
A federal judge is expected to hear arguments Wednesday on whether the Oakland Police Department is ready to take the next step toward ending federal oversight.
If approved, OPD could regain full control of the department as early as this fall.
The “Oakland Riders” case involved allegations from more than 100 people who accused four veteran officers of violating civil rights through false arrests, planting evidence, excessive force and assaults.
Since then, the department has been required to implement sweeping reforms focused on accountability, internal investigations and use-of-force policies.
OPD previously came close to full compliance but still needed to resolve three remaining issues involving its discipline policy, citizen complaint procedures and the timeliness of internal investigations.
“Very excited for a couple of different reasons,” Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins said. “One, we are policing in a way that is constitutional and that is protective of all the rights of our residents. And two, we have been in this negotiated settlement agreement for 20-plus years and the community has been begging us to get out of it in a constitutional way.”
A federal judge is expected to hear arguments Wednesday on whether OPD is ready to take the next step toward ending the oversight.
Officials say reaching full compliance marks a major milestone for both the department and the city.