OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is standing by her decision to remove LeRonne Armstrong as the city's Police Chief.
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This comes as Armstrong has officially filed his appeal for reinstatement.
Thao has said she’s profoundly disappointed with how the situation has played out after the report that found the former chief mishandled two instances of misconduct within the department.
According to Thao, the saga has further damaged the credibility of the Oakland Police Department's leadership.
"It is serious, but it could have been a lot more serious," she said. "It creates the breeding ground for creating more serious issues within the department that translates out to our communities."
The department's leadership history is shaky at best, with police chiefs being replaced at a regular rate in recent years.
In the meantime, the search for the new chief is on. The process is sure to be thorough, and Thao is hoping for a candidate that best reflects Oakland’s values and diversity.
"Our next chief will be someone who can implement the reforms that are necessary to ensure constitutional policing," said Thao. "And ultimately exit us out of the federal oversight that we’ve been under for the last 21 years."
Armstrong maintains that he was wrongfully terminated. But Thao doesn't think his recent appeal will impact the search for a new chief.
"His appeal, that's his right," she said. "That is his right, and that is his choice."
Thao recently threw her support behind interim Chief Darren Allison as the process moves forward.
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