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OAKLAND (KTVU) -- The city of Oakland held the first of 10 community meetings Thursday night as the city looks to hire a permanent chief to run the embattled department.
The department has been beset by scandal, high-crime and turnover at the top ever since former Chief Sean Whent left the post in early June.
Mayor Libby Schaaf has announced a series of steps to name a new top cop, which includes community meetings -- some of which will be dedicated to hearing from young people -- and online form and community survey.
"We're more fearful than the cops, because when we get stopped, we don't know what's going to happen," Violence Prevention Educator Fransua Senegal said, as the microphone was shared at the Castlemont High School auditorium.
"We know they can beat us up, harass us, and embarrass us in public, and then walk away."
Most of the community meetings, scheduled in September and October, are citywide. The first two seek input from young people, in particular.
At the first meeting, turnout was light, with a few dozen teenagers, city staff, teachers, and activists. But the meetings are expected to gather steam as they go along.
Written surveys were filled-out. Staff took notes as participants were asked, "What word describes your relationship with police?"
Fearful, awful, tense, and broken were among the responses.
And for one young man, "missing."
"A lot of people who have been shot have experienced, just lying in the street bleeding, for 30-45 minutes before anybody comes," said youth pastor David Ocasio, "And it seems like anything between International and Macarthur boulevards is the slow zone."
There was agreement among many qualities the ideal chief should have: integrity, compassion, and accountability.
But the participants were divided on whether the hire should be from Oakland and know the city or come from outside the city, which would bring a fresh perspective.
"He shouldn't have fear, he shouldn't just come here for a paycheck but because he really wants to make a difference," Senegal said. "And he should be willing to really get involved and get his hands dirty."
Oakland has already been without a permanent chief for almost three months. The city has hired a recruiting firm to launch a national search.
The department, already under federal oversight, has been rocked anew by a sexual misconduct scandal and revolving door of police chiefs.
"This is the person who is supposed to be making sure that we are safe," said Ty' Jeare Hunter, a 16-year-old student at Castlemont . "And I also want to bring up, it doesn't have to be a man."
Among those listening was Oakland Council member Larry Reid, who worries that the prolonged search may add to the woes of the demoralized officers.
"I think there are enough applicants (and) the mayor could select someone right now," Reid said. "And I would have loved to have a shorter process, but it's the mayor's choice, and we've got to live with it."
Among teenagers hanging out on campus, and skipping the forum, athlete Isaac Sanchez, 16.
"I'd like the chief to keep the streets more safe and make it safe so we can walk home," Sanchez said. "It's hard to walk home without getting robbed or something."
The person who takes the post will be walking into some high expectations.
"This is Mayor Schaaf's first opportunity to hire a chief so we want to take it seriously and be diligent about community input," chief of staff Tomiquia Moss said. "We have to get it right, we really have no choice here."
The timeline has candidate screening in November, then selection, and a new chief in place for 2017. There's also an online survey for residents to take.
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List of community meetings:
- Sep. 1 at 5P: Youth Community Forum at Castlemont HS Auditorium, 8601 MacArthur Blvd.
- Sep. 7 at 6P: Community Policing Advisory Board Mtg - Eastmont Police Station, 2651 73rd Ave.
- Sep. 8 at 6P: Citizen Police Review Board Meeting City Hall, City Council Chamber.
- Sep. 10 at 12P: Youth Community Forum - McClymonds High School Cafeteria, 2607 Myrtle St.
- Sep. 12 at 6P: Citywide Community Forum - N. Oakland Senior Ctr, 5714 MLK Jr. Way.
- Sep. 21 at 4P: Chinatown Crime Prevention Council (Cantonese) Lincoln Rec Ctr, 250 10th St.
- Sep. 21 at 6P: Citywide Community Forum East Oakland Senior Center, 9255 Edes Ave.
- Sep. 26 at 6:30P: Safety and Services Oversight Committee City Hall, Hearing Room 1.
- Sep. 27 at 6P: City Council Public Safety Committee City Hall.
- Sep. 28 at 6P: Citywide Community Forum (Spanish) at Fruitvale Village, 3301 E. 12th St., #201.
KTVU reporter Debora Villalon contributed to this report.