Community Defends the Chief

NAACP, Clergy, intergenerational and interracial voices demand the reinstatement of Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong by Mayor Sheng Thao. The enthusiastic display backing Oakland’s top cop is historic for a city that has suffered decades-long mistreatment from many of its peacekeepers. The community continues to call for reform of the police department, but they want Armstrong to lead that direction.

Popular Chief LeRonne Armstrong Placed on Administrative Leave During Investigation of Police Misconduct

“I did nothing wrong. I violated no policies,” said Armstrong, speaking at a press conference

By Ken Epstein

Refusing to accept administrative leave during a police misconduct investigation, OPD Chief LeRonne Armstrong fired back with a press conference of his own this week, organized by a high-profile corporate public relations and communications firm.

“I should be the chief of police and remain in my position,” he said. “I did nothing wrong. I violated no policies.” cades.

The case involves a highly paid police sergeant who was involved in a hit-and-run automobile accident in San Francisco and is accused of later discharging a gun in an OPD freight elevator and disposing of the shell casings by throwing them off the Bay Bridge.

In his remarks, Armstrong defended OPD’s internal affairs department and fellow officers who were criticized in an independent report that found “systemic deficiencies” in the police department.

“This to me, clearly, is a lastditch effort to destroy the credibility of me…and to make the community believe that Oakland police is involved in some shady business,” he said.

He blasted Warshaw’s “ulterior motives,” accusing him and his team of seeking a reason to continue to be paid over $1 million a year to oversee the department, which was potentially set to exit from federal oversight at the end of May.

By Carla Thomas and Post Staff

“Chief LeRonne Armstrong has done nothing wrong,” was the resounding statement of the afternoon at the Alameda County Rene C. Davidson Courthouse on 1225 Fallon Street near Lake Merritt on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Hundreds of civic, religious, and community leaders joined in mass support convening on the steps of the courthouse at a press conference hosted by the Oakland NAACP.

Chief Armstrong. Moreover, we call on Mayor Sheng Thao and the City Attorney, Barbara Parker to urge the judge to investigate the Federal Monitor Robert Warshaw.” on the federal oversight of OPD, Gallo said he has fought to get Oakland released from the Negotiated Settlement Agreement. “We have paid $20 million, at a rate of $1 million a year for a monitor to evaluate every three months. I met with the National Police Officers Association in Washington, D.C. and they said to me: ‘Mr. Gallo, Warshaw needs to be fired!’” Gallo also pointed out that Warshaw had been previously fired as a monitor in the city of Detroit.

Last week, Armstrong was placed on administrative leave for not applying the appropriate punishment to an officer who had not fully reported his own squad car accident in San Francisco and fired a gun in the elevator of the OPD headquarters. Under federal oversight for two decades, the OPD is monitored on a quarterly basis.

Mayor Sheng Thao placed Armstrong on administrative leave with pay while his role in an officer misconduct cover-up scandal is investigated by internal affairs.

At a press conference Monday at the office of PR consultant Sam Singer’s office in Emeryville, Armstrong did not blame Mayor Sheng Thao for placing him on leave but instead denounced federal monitor, Robert Warshaw, who oversees the police department and evaluates its reform efforts as a representative for the federal court that has overseen OPD for two de-

“It’s hard to say a mayor who’s been in the seat for just a couple of weeks would be able to push back against a monitor at this point,” Armstrong said, adding that some city officials might be “intimidated” by Warshaw’s team.

City Attorney Barbara Parker said in a statement that her office agreed that the recent report on

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Uproar in Oakland After OPD Chief Armstrong Placed on Leave

the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Councilmember Noel Gallo, and other Oakland leaders.

“Chief LeRonne Armstrong did nothing wrong,” said the NAACP’s media release.

“Our police chief has done nothing wrong,” said Oakland NAACP president, Cynthia Adams. This was echoed by Cathy Adams, president of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao placed Chief Armstrong on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated for lax discipline in two officer cases. Both representatives are requesting that the Oakland mayor “walk back the decision, reinstate Chief Armstrong so he can get back to the business of meeting the public safety of his constituents.”

City Councilmember Noel Gallo (D-5) who attended Armstrong’s press conference in Emeryville on Monday said, “He should have never had to go

Asian community leader Carl Chan, representing the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said that immediately after Armstrong became chief, Armstrong reached out to support the Asian community and combat the surge of violent assaults on Asian people by providing as an Asian liaison officer.

“He has been bridging the gap between the OPD and the entire community,” said Chan. “He has had our back, but today it is time for us to say, ‘We have your back!’”

By Ken Epstein

Many organizations and individuals are weighing in after Mayor Sheng Thao’s decision last week to place OPD Chief LeRonne Armstrong on paid administrative leave while an investigation proceeds into a newly revealed police misconduct scandal and allega- tions

Calling for Armstrong to be immediately reinstated, the Oakland NAACP held a press conference Tuesday at the Renee C. Davidson Courthouse in downtown Oakland, joined by 100 Black Men, the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Pastors of Oakland,

“After reviewing the publicly disclosed information, the Oakland NAACP strongly requests that Mayor Sheng Thao allow due process and reinstate Chief Armstrong immediately. We also call on Mayor Sheng Thao and City Attorney Barbara Parker to urge the judge to investigate Federal Monitor Warshaw,” the media release said.

Civil rights attorney John Burris, who has worked with both Armstrong and Warshaw, has been

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The NAACP representative stated, “We know that Chief LeRonne Armstrong has done nothing wrong and we strongly urge Mayor Sheng Thao to allow due process and immediately reinstate through this. He is fundamentally responsible for the safety of his people. He grew up here. We have great representation in Fruitvale because of him and I applaud his leadership.” While shedding light

Pastor Phyllis Scott, President of Pastors of Oakland told the Post, “This city is blessed to have Chief LeRonne Armstrong as our friend. I am calling on the mayor to restore him as our chief.”

“When the homicides last year reached 134 homicides and our communities lived in fear…he empowered communities. He got involved in community prayer vigils. He met with all communities, listening to their concerns and putting solutions in place to the individual needs of those communities. That’s why you see such a good representation of pastors at this NAACP rally.”

Pastor Scott said the chief invested the time of his officers.

“When officers spoke at community events and attended church