The Oakland Tribune reports U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderon wrote Wednesday that he would not hesitate to impose sanctions against anyone who continues to limit the authority of Compliance Director Thomas Frazier.
The judge has accused City Hall of trying to obstruct Frazier through legal or contractual arguments.
Frazier, a former Baltimore police commissioner, was named the department's compliance director last month. He has broad authority to spend city funds, demote commanders and seek the ouster of Chief Howard Jordan.
Oakland officials agreed to accept a powerful court-appointed compliance director to avoid a complete federal takeover of the department following a police brutality scandal.