![\"chief-james-beere-oakland-polilce-introduction-070926.jpg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chief-james-beere-oakland-polilce-introduction-070926.jpg#.jpeg\")
James Beere, who was appointed as the permanent chief of the Oakland Police Department on July 9, 2026.<\/p>\n
CBS<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bright day. We\u2019re moving forward in the City of Oakland and I can tell you that the team that Mayor Lee has put together, she\u2019s broken down silos, she\u2019s opened up lines of communication and through the hard work of the women and men of the police department, we\u2019re seeing historic lows,\u201d Beere said. \u201cJust like the mayor said, we have a lot of work to do, and I\u2019m ready for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, I can\u2019t believe I\u2019ve been giving this honor to serving this great city. This city is truly the diamond of the Bay Area and we need to make this diamond shine and show everyone else in the world what Oakland really is: the greatest community,\u201d the chief added.<\/p>\n
The Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) voiced support for Beere\u2019s appointment to lead the department. OPOA president Huy Nguyen described Beere as \u201can excellent choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when Oakland desperately needs stability, more police officers, increased response times and a renewed focus on reducing violent crime to serve our community and neighborhoods. Chief Beere brings the experience, discipline, and steady leadership necessary to move the Oakland Police Department forward,\u201d Nguyen said.<\/p>\n
Six people, including Beere, have led the Oakland Police Department since the start of the decade. <\/p>\n
Anne Kirkpatrick, the city\u2019s first female chief,\u00a0was fired in 2020 by the Oakland Police Commission<\/a>. Kirkpatrick sued the city, and a jury found she was wrongfully fired in retaliation<\/a>. She has since been named chief of police in New Orleans, Louisiana<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following Kirkpatrick\u2019s firing, Darren Allison and Susan Manheimer served as interim police chiefs.<\/p>\n In 2021, former mayor Libby Schaaf appointed LeRonne Armstrong as chief<\/a>. A West Oakland native and a 20-year veteran of the department, Armstrong was fired by Schaff\u2019s successor, Mayor Sheng Thao, in 2023<\/a> and Allison was again named acting chief.<\/p>\n Following a search that stretched for over a year, Thao appointed Mitchell<\/a>, who had previously led the police department in Lubbock, Texas. After less than two years on the job, Mitchell resigned and Beere was named interim chief.<\/p>\n