Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell submitted his resignation Tuesday, effective Dec. 5, ending his brief tenure leading the troubled East Bay city’s police department.
It was 17 months ago in May 2024 when Mitchell stepped in to lead the OPD at a critical juncture. The department had been leaderless for more than a year after then-Mayor Sheng Thao fired ex-chief LeRonne Armstrong.
“It has been an honor to serve the Oakland community, and I am grateful for the support I’ve received from the residents,” Mitchell said in the statement. “I’m incredibly proud of the men and women of this Department and the collaborative working relationships forged with the community and business owners to reduce crime.”
Mitchell, who previously was a police chief in Lubbock, Texas, did not explain why he was quitting.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who took office in May, thanked Mitchell for his service and cited crime reductions during his leadership.
“Under his tenure, we have seen significant reductions in crime — a testament to his commitment to public safety and the hard work of our police officers,” Lee said. “I am grateful for Chief Mitchell’s collaboration with our administration and his focus on community-centered policing.”
Violent crime through early September was down 26% compared to the same point last year, according to OPD data (opens in new tab). Overall crime is down 29% this year.
Though reported crimes have dropped, staffing is a persistent problem in the department. The officers’ union has repeatedly called on the department to hire more cops to confront crime.
In a statement Wednesday thanking Mitchell for his service, the union said it was “deeply concerned” by his resignation, saying it represented “another chapter in a troubling pattern of instability at the highest levels of city government and the Oakland Police Department.”
The department has also been under federal oversight for more than 20 years due to past abuse cases.
Mitchell will work with Lee and City Administrator Jestin Johnson over the coming weeks to identify an interim chief to ensure a smooth transition, according to a statement from the city.
Mitchell will continue his duties as chief during the transition period, according to the city.
The move comes as San Francisco weighs its own replacement for police chief in the wake of Bill Scott’s resignation last May. He left to become chief of police for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency’s yet-to-be-formed police force. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s public safety czar, Paul Yep, has been serving as interim chief. Yep, a former SFPD commander, said he will not seek the permanent position.