James Beere will be sworn in Wednesday as Oakland’s police chief, becoming the city’s seventh chief or interim chief in the past six years.
Mayor Barbara Lee is expected to swear in Beere during an 11:30 a.m. ceremony at Oakland City Hall.
Beere has been with the Oakland Police Department for 29 years and has served as interim chief since Floyd Mitchell resigned last year. He will become Oakland’s 12th police chief — permanent or interim — in the past 15 years.
Mayor Lee said she expects Beere to bring stability to the department. She said she was looking for someone who understands both policing and Oakland and views the position as a commitment to the city.
Beere’s appointment comes as the Oakland Police Department is expected to come out from under federal oversight later this year.
Beere said he is committed to continuing the policing strategies outlined in the oversight agreement even after federal oversight ends. His priorities include recruiting more officers for the chronically understaffed department, constitutional policing, rebuilding trust and continuing to reduce crime.
“We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas,” Beere said. “We’ve got to keep in touch with what’s going on in the community. And we’ve got to keep those lines of communication open.”
The Oakland Police Officers’ Association has backed Mayor Lee’s decision to appoint Beere as permanent chief.