At a morning news conference, Tucker announced he would resign effective Feb. 28. Tucker said the decision was his own and that he was not asked by Mayor Ron Dellums to step down.

"It is with regret that I accept Chief Tucker's resignation," Dellums told the media.

Tucker cited conflicts with the Oakland City Council as the primary reason for his resignation, saying of the council, "I'm in conflict with them on many aspects and I doubt their sincerity about supporting reforms."

Tucker alleged that the City Council only "pays lip service" to public safety, saying, "all you have to do is look at the budget cuts that the city has undergone."

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the embattled chief refused to comment on the status of his job at Dellums "State Of The City" address Monday night.

Dellums said during his address that the perception on Oakland streets is that some officers are not being held accountable for their actions.

"That perception is reality and it has to change," said Dellums.

But that change, for right now anyway, apparently does not include the chief. A department spokesman flatly denied that the chief's resignation had happened.

"The mayor has not asked for the chief's resignation and the chief has not given his resignation. And that is it," said Oakland Police information Officer Jeff Thomason at the address.

However, acting City Adminstrator Dan Lindheim said the chief has previously indicated he would be willing to step down if it's in the best interest of the department.

"I think it's a continuous debate in his mind," explained Lindheim. "Is he more effective by being the chief or is he more effective by getting out of the way?"

Criticism of the department has been simmering, but reached a boil in recent days after KTVU and the Chauncey Bailey Project revealed that the FBI is investigating the Oakland Police Department.

Among the allegations is that Captain Ed Poulson, current head of police internal affairs, is suspected of kicking a man nine years ago so severely that the man later died. He allegedly then got other officers to cover up his actions.

And while that did not occur on Chief Tucker's watch, some city council members have indicated they no longer have confidence in Chief Tucker and they want him to resign.

City Council President Jane Brunner, who was knocked to the ground by a television cameraman who was chasing Tucker, said there was "a very significant rumor" that Tucker will resign but she said she's been assured by city officials that Tucker hasn't offered to resign and Dellums hasn't asked him to resign.

"If I could read the tea leaves, he [Tucker] won't resign," Brunner said.

However, she said she and fellow City Council members Larry Reid, Desley Brooks and Pat Kernighan will hold a news conference at City Hall on Tuesday to talk about their concerns about Tucker and the Police Department.