Judge ends federal oversight of Oakland police department after 23 years
A federal judge in San Francisco ended federal monitoring of the Oakland Police Department on Tuesday, marking the longest-running oversight of a police department in U.S. history. The 23-year oversight began after a 2000 police brutality and corruption case, which resulted in the department under federal supervision and numerous reform measures.
The federal monitor's May report confirmed that the Oakland Police Department had complied with all 51 court-mandated reforms. Judge William Orrick expressed gratitude to the officers for achieving substantial compliance, stating, "May it ever be thus."
While some civil rights organizations had requested a delay in ending federal oversight, Judge Orrick emphasized the importance of the court "getting out of the way." Oakland Police Chief James Beere acknowledged that the department had fallen short in completing 85% of its serious misconduct investigations within 180 days, attributing some delays to complex officer-involved shootings.
Nonetheless, Beere and civil rights attorney John Burris acknowledged the department's progress over the past two decades and the need to maintain that progress under Oakland's leadership.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
