Oakland police brass in major shakeup

FILE — Acting police Chief Anthony Toribio speaks during a press conference held to discuss the release of the Oakland Crime Reduction Project Bratton Group Findings and Recommendations in Oakland , Calif., Thursday, May 9, 2013. less FILE — Acting police Chief Anthony Toribio speaks during a press conference held to discuss the release of the Oakland Crime Reduction Project Bratton Group Findings and Recommendations in Oakland , Calif., ... more Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Oakland police brass in major shakeup 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

A week after a powerful new federal court overseer of Oakland police issued a scathing report about the department's executive leadership, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and City Administrator Deanna Santana replaced virtually all of those commanders.

The overhaul Friday included a demotion to captain of the acting chief, Anthony Toribio, who had held the position for just two days after Police Chief Howard Jordan shocked city leadership when he stepped down, citing health problems.

Sean Whent, a 17-year department veteran, was named the new acting chief as the city prepares to conduct a national search for a new chief. Whent has been a deputy chief overseeing internal affairs, risk management and personnel assessment - areas at the center of the decade-old court order on police misconduct the court overseer is trying to enforce.

Along with Whent being elevated, three new deputy chiefs with experience in internal affairs were named - meaning that only one of the five top people in the department a week ago remain in their position.

Meeting with consultants

Quan and Santana said they made their decisions after meeting Wednesday afternoon with Thomas Frazier, the federal court-appointed compliance director who began overseeing the department in March, and Robert Warshaw, the long-standing court-appointed monitor.

In a report released last week, Frazier repeatedly faulted Police Department executive leaders for various problems, particularly their failure to hold themselves or their subordinates accountable for misconduct.

It was unclear whether the staffing changes were suggested or ordered by Frazier - Quan and Santana refused to discuss those details.

51 reforms

Frazier has broad powers to bring the department into compliance with 51 reforms listed in a 2003 court settlement stemming from the police abuse case of a group of rogue officers known as "the Riders."

Under an agreement between the city and plaintiffs' attorneys, Frazier was given the power to seek the firing of the police chief and demotions of others in the department. Both Quan and Santana refused to answer whether Frazier wanted Jordan's removal.

In a letter to the rank and file on Wednesday, Jordan said he was departing because of a medical condition, which he did not specify.

"I take Howard at his word," said Quan. "I think he loved his job. He loved this city."

Plaintiffs' attorneys who negotiated the 2003 settlement said the command staff overhaul was essential.

Federal court oversight began in 2003 and was expected to last only a few years. But the city has been unable to comply fully with the reforms, and the compliance director was appointed to get that job done.

"The people of Oakland have a right to see this come to an end with the department in compliance," said Jim Chanin, an Oakland resident and one of the plaintiffs' attorneys in the case. "If these changes can make that happen, then I am all for them. Something has to be done to get us into compliance."

John Burris, an Oakland resident who is the other plaintiffs' attorney involved in the case, said Frazier's report last week made it clear change is needed.

"Because of his criticism of the command staff, it only stood to reason that there were going to be changes," Burris said.

Frazier has already said he is reopening closed internal affairs investigations. He did not specify the cases, though there have been a number of high-profile shootings by police in recent years, and allegations that unnecessary force was used during Occupy protests.

"There should be no comfort level here for officers in terms of what they thought they could get away with in the past," Burris said. "This is a new day."

Problems detailed

In addition to Frazier's report last week, a police consultant group hired by the city issued its report this week that revealed problems with the Police Department's investigation - or lack thereof - of crime.

The team, led by former New York Police Commissioner William Bratton, reported that:

-- An investigation team assigned to all of the city's 4,100 robberies last year had one lieutenant, a sergeant and eight investigators. But they only worked day shifts on weekdays - limiting their ability to respond to many crimes.

-- There is only one investigator assigned to cover non-gun assaults.

-- There was only one part-time investigator assigned to handle 13,000 burglaries in 2012.

-- Even though evidence technicians working burglaries have found fingerprint matches on half of prints taken from scenes, more than 200 good prints were never even entered into a database.

The Bratton consultants are suggesting a significant restructuring that would create investigative teams in five police districts.