Oakland begins national search for police chief

Mayor Libby Schaaf, flanked by Sabrina Landreth (left) and Regina Jackson, discusses the search for a police chief. Mayor Libby Schaaf, flanked by Sabrina Landreth (left) and Regina Jackson, discusses the search for a police chief. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Oakland begins national search for police chief 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

After years of cycling through police chief after police chief, Oakland officials have begun a national search for a leader who will bring much-needed stability and imaginative reforms to the city’s battered department, Mayor Libby Schaaf said Monday.

“We know there is a critical national conversation happening about policing, asking questions about safety and justice,” Schaaf said at a news conference inside Oakland City Hall, at which she stood flanked by City Administrator Sabrina Landreth, East Oakland Youth Development Center head Regina Jackson, and about a dozen teenagers from Oakland. Some of those teens will lead community discussions on law enforcement in September, when the city releases its official job posting for a new chief, Schaaf said.

She and Landreth expect to screen candidates in November and pick a new chief to start early next year. They hired the recruiting firm Ralph Andersen & Associates to help find potential applicants and plan to hold community meetings this fall to find out what residents desire in their new chief. The city will put out online surveys, and Schaaf will pick two community members to sit on the selection panel.

The whole process, while exhaustive, appears designed to make all Oakland residents feel like they have a say in picking their new chief and reforming the troubled department.

“It is my experience as Oakland’s mayor that Oaklanders are hungry to continue both our progress with reforms as well as becoming the safe city that we all know Oakland deserves to be,” Schaaf said at the news conference. She said that “community engagement” will help Oakland find a reform-minded leader who will not only chip away at the city’s crime rate but also build trust between residents and law enforcement.

Only a year ago, Oakland’s Police Department was on an upswing, boosting its ranks, embracing new technology, and even getting accolades from a White House expert on policing. That period of success swiftly unraveled in recent months amid a sexual misconduct scandal and the abrupt departure of three bosses in nine days.

Now the pressure is on Schaaf, who — like her San Francisco counterpart, Ed Lee — is facing a recall campaign from activists who say she helped prop up a corrupt police force. Leaders of the campaign demand that Oakland cut funding for its Police Department in half and give the money to community groups.

Some law enforcement experts are skeptical that Oakland will find a permanent leader for its department, given the recent misconduct scandal, the scrutiny of a federal judge and court monitor, and the forthcoming November ballot measure to create a powerful citizen-led police commission — adding yet another layer of supervision for whoever becomes chief.

“I would think this would be a very difficult time to recruit a professional police chief because there are so many unknowns that would be difficult to deal with,” said retired Vallejo Police Chief Robert Nichelini, who spent the early part of his career serving as a deputy chief in Oakland.

Nichelini said Oakland should focus on grooming someone from its police force, rather than recruiting a candidate who may not understand the complexity of the city.

But Landreth said at the news conference Monday that she is already fielding inquiries from far outside Oakland.

“I remain optimistic that this is one of the most plum jobs in the country,” she said, adding that internal candidates are welcome to apply for the $204,000-a-year position.

City Councilman Dan Kalb, who pushed the police commission ballot measure, said he thinks it’s “highly probable” that Oakland’s next chief will come from another city.

“It would be helpful to have a strong leader come in from the outside and shake things up a little bit,” Kalb said.

Teens who spoke at the news conference said they are happy to be part of the process.

“Police officers think African American or Latino kids are doing something wrong, when sometimes we might just be trying to get home,” said Kiyle Adams, 17.

He hopes that Oakland’s new chief will help prevent such misunderstandings.

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