Oakland: Appointment of city administrator over police department illegal, state says

OAKLAND -- Mayor Libby Schaaf's appointment of City Administrator Sabrina Landreth to oversee the police department raised questions about its legality Monday and whether the city would be forced to name its third police chief in less than two weeks.

On Friday, Schaaf announced Landreth would oversee the troubled department. The mayor at the time said she would not name a new acting chief until a permanent candidate is hired.

Acting Assistant Chief David Downing is now overseeing the day-to-day operations of OPD and is reporting to Landreth.

But Ralph Brown, a spokesman for Peace Officer Standards and Training, said the head of any California police department needs to be appointed by a city administrator, pass a background check and be named as acting chief. Brown said Oakland is in violation of state government code 38630 and an attorney general's opinion on the matter.

A city administrator cannot serve in both roles, he said. Brown said no one at POST, a state agency that oversees police standards, was notified Friday when Schaaf announced the resignation of acting Chief Paul Figueroa and the appointment of Landreth.


http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_30037559/oakland-appointment-city-administrator-over-police-department-illegal