Oakland Voters To Decide On New Police Commission In November

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- After much debate, Oakland City Council members late Tuesday unanimously passed a ballot measure for an independent police commission.

The measure will be put before voters in November.

It's no secret that the Oakland Police Department has seen several major scandals this year and throughout history.

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"This really balances accountability with independence," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

If voters approve it in November, an independent police commission would have the power to fire a police chief and subpoena records.

The City Council's unanimous decision came after 75 people spoke out last night.

Some opposed part of the plan that would allow the mayor to appoint three people to the seven-member commission, saying politics would get in the way.

"We don't need any more hugs! We don't need any more barbeques! What we need is justice," said Oakland activist Rev. Ben McBride.

Council members Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan also unsuccessfully attempted to include an amendment to strip Schaaf of her right to appoint those commission members.

But Mayor Schaaf said that she will be accountable for who she chooses.

"This still continues to hold that chief elected official's feet to the fire for how the police department is performing while still giving a majority of the seats to an independent commission," said Schaaf.

Some say creating a new commission doesn't go far enough.

"You are not hearing us when we're talking about the bloodbath that you all continue to support," said Black Lives Matter Activist Cat Brooks.

If voters approve it, the new commission would replace Oakland's Citizens' Police Review Board, which recommends disciplinary measures to the police chief, but doesn't have any real teeth

Mayor Schaaf has already allocated $1 million in her June budget to get the commission up and running.

Councilmen Dan Kalb, one of the sponsors of the measure, said Wednesday that if the measure is approved, "Oakland will have an independent body that has real authority over the police chief and police policies in certain areas."

Kalb said the review agency that would work alongside the commission would have equal standing with the Police Department in imposing discipline on officers who engage in misconduct.

The Oakland Police Officers' Association, which represents the city's officers, had threatened to sue over changes to the police discipline process that were defined in the union's current contract, but amendments that the council made last Friday prompted the union to withdraw its opposition.

Police union president Sgt. Barry Donelan said in a letter to the city, "Oakland's police officers are open to the concept of a police commission but you can't create an initiative that substantively changes a binding contract between the city and its police officers."

The proposal allows the commission to fire a police chief for cause if five members agree to do so. The commission, which is expected to meet twice a month, will also have subpoena power over police records.

No past or present police officers would be allowed to serve on the commission. Members must be at least 18 years old and be Oakland residents.

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