Oakland introduces new ‘reform-minded’ police chief

Oakland’s new police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick, promised to create a culture of accountability and earn residents’ respect in her first public address at City Hall Wednesday.

Kirkpatrick is the first woman to head the embattled department, which for years cycled through chief after chief and has been without a leader for seven months. Schaaf deemed her “the reform-minded leader that Oakland has been searching for.”

“Over 34 years in law enforcement, she has tackled many of the issues facing Oakland today,” Schaaf said, introducing the bespectacled, beaming Kirkpatrick to a throng of reporters.

Kirkpatrick began her career in 1982 as a police officer in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and went on to work in several cities in Washington. Between 1996 and 2012 she served as the police chief of Ellensburg, Federal Way, and Spokane.

Anne Kirkpatrick (at podium) during a news conference at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Kirkpatrick was introduced as Oakland's new police chief. Anne Kirkpatrick (at podium) during a news conference at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Kirkpatrick was introduced as Oakland's new police chief. Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Oakland introduces new ‘reform-minded’ police chief 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

She brimmed with exuberance addressing the crowd, and at one point paused and said: “Although I don’t hear the accent, I know y’all do,” to laughter.

Most recently she led the Bureau of Professional Standards in Chicago’s Police department, instituting a series of reforms in the wake of national protests over the death of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times by a police officer in 2014.

Asked whether she will change the dysfunctional culture of Oakland’s police force — which Schaaf famously compared to a “frat house” during a news conference in June — Kirkpatrick parried.

“I don’t consider it a mess,” she said. “It’s an opportunity.”

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan