After nearly two decades under federal oversight for systemic issues, the Oakland Police Department is finally nearing the end of the process.
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U.S. District Judge William Orrick has announced that he plans to issue an order to allow the department to move into a year-long transitional stage that would result in the federal oversight coming to an end.
This decision comes after the department has implemented dozens of reforms over the last several years.
"This is a milestone," said Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong at a press conference Wednesday. "The idea that this police department has put itself in a place where we can have a conversation about sustainability and potentially demonstrating to the public that we serve that this is the most progressive police department in the country."
The Oakland Police Department was placed under federal oversight in 2003 after a slew of accusations and allegations of police brutality and other misconduct came out.
The need for oversight became clear after the infamous Riders case of 2000 revealed that a team of Oakland Police Department officers was systematically beating up suspects and committing civil rights violations in West Oakland.
The case went to court. Well-known civil rights attorney John Burris represented the multiple plaintiffs who claimed the officers had conspired to frame them in addition to the assaults.
"The question is whether or not a good enough roadmap has been set for the next generation of leaders to follow what has been done and whether they have the commitment to do it," said Burris.
Oversight was only supposed to last five years, in which the department was supposed to complete a series of changes, more than 50, to better train and discipline officers. The oversight has dragged on for nearly 20.
Despite the official oversight potentially coming to an end, Oakland officials stressed that the department will continue to prioritize reform.
"This is not something that will ever be over," said Mayor Libby Schaaf at the press conference. "It's a continual quest for us as Oakland’s leaders to ensure that our police department is the national model, is the vanguard, for progressive, professional policing."
The order will also require continued consultation with the city's police commission, said Schaaf.
Orrick is likely to issue the order next week setting a date for when the department can begin to move into the transition period.
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