Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong fired, says he's 'deeply disappointed' by mayor's decision
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announced during a news conference Wednesday the termination of Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, who was suspended and placed on paid administrative leave due to his handling of misconduct allegations involving one of his officers in 2021.
Thao cited her decision on Armstrong's termination as no longer having confidence in his ability to effectively lead the department and stressed that this was not a disciplinary action based on the active investigation.
"Chief Armstrong said these were not incidents where officers behaved poorly, he stated that he did not believe these incidents reflected systemic problems, instead chief Armstrong described the underlying incident as a minor vehicle collision, he said that officers made mistakes. It is clear to me that there are systemic issues and the city needs to address them and that we cannot simply write them off as mistakes," said Thao.
The mayor said she would be working actively with the Oakland Police Commission on a nationwide search for The Town's next police chief.
VIDEO: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announces firing of police chief
The move by Mayor Thao comes less than a month after Chief Armstrong was put on paid administrative leave. One that happened when a Federal monitor questioned Armstrong's response after two of his Oakland officers were involved in law breaking incidents, including a hit-and-run accident and a gunshot fired inside OPD headquarters.
"Chief Armstrong said these were not incidents where officers behaved poorly, he stated that he did not believe these incidents reflected systemic problems, instead chief Armstrong described the underlying incident as a minor vehicle collision, he said that officers made mistakes. It is clear to me that there are systemic issues and the city needs to address them and that we cannot simply write them off as mistakes," said Thao.
The firing of the chief came just hours before Oakland Police Commissioners were to hold a disciplinary meeting on the chief, one that was canceled due to the termination.
"I was a little surprised that she had not incorporated the police commission into the decision after all the police commission was instituted in order to monitor the police," said attorney John Burris.
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After the firing, some commissioners praising Armstrong for his work.
"Under your leadership many Black women graduated from the academy," said Commissioner Regina Jackson.
"From African American communities, to the Asian communities, to the Latino community, you were responsive to all those communities," said Commissioner Brenda Harbin-Forte.
ABC7 News insider Phil Matier says, "Chief Armstrong was very popular among people in a number of communities in Oakland, especially the African American community."
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Reaction is coming in from all over.
"We cannot say he was a good cop just because he was Black and we cannot say this is a shocker to those of us who have been following his career. I'm not at all surprised that Armstrong was steeped in it he's been inside of that department for a very long time and it has always been a dysfunctional, disgraceful mess," said Cat Brooks of the Anti Police-Terror Project.
LeRonne Armstrong released a statement on his termination writing:
"I am deeply disappointed in the Mayor's decision. After the relevant facts are fully evaluated by weighing evidence instead of pulling soundbites from strategically leaked, inaccurate reports, it will be clear I was a loyal and effective reformer of the Oakland Police Department. It will be equally clear that I committed no misconduct, and my termination is fundamentally wrong, unjustified, and unfair. I anticipate releasing a more detailed statement soon once I have the chance to fully digest the Mayor's remarks."
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Armstrong's representative says it is unclear if he'll take legal action against the city going forward.
The Oakland Police Department released a statement following the mayor's announcement, writing:
"Today, it was announced that Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong was relieved of duty. Chief of Police Darren Allison will continue to lead the department as acting chief of police.
Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan said, "Despite the turmoil surrounding the leadership of the police department, Oakland residents can be assured that Oakland's hard working police officers have remained on duty throughout; responding to 911 calls, investigating crime, and will continue with their dedicated service to our city."
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