Oakland mayor names new police chief James Beere: 2 sources
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee on Thursday will name interim chief James Beere as the city's new police chief, according to two sources.
Beere has been with the Oakland Police Department since 1997, served as a US Marine, and has lived in Oakland for about three decades.
Lee said she would be making an "important public safety announcement" at 9 a.m. at City Hall.
Though Lee didn't indicate what the announcement would be about, the Oakland Police Commission submitted the final slate of finalists to her office in early June. According to the city's website, the mayor will make the chief selection announcement in mid to late July.
James Beere next chief
James Beere has been acting as the interim chief since December 2025, after the last chief, Floyd Mitchell, resigned and then went to become police chief of Fremont.
In March, Beere told KTVU that he is seeking the permanent police chief role.
KTVU is not aware of the other finalists' names.
Federal oversight poised to end
Big picture view:
Oakland police in compliance with all 51 reforms: federal monitor
For the first time in more than two decades, a federal monitor declared that the Oakland Police Department has achieved compliance with all 51 reforms that it was ordered to complete following what's now infamously known as the Riders scandal.
Beere will be the chief when 20 years of federal oversight is slated to end – now scheduled for September.
In a recent court filing, federal monitor Robert Warshaw wrote in court documents on Friday.
Warshaw singled out Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s leadership and OPD’s commitment – under Beere – in addressing the last three items out of 51 that remained incomplete on a mandatory police reform list.
Warshaw credited Lee for personally "immersing herself" in this process of ending the oversight as a key to success, and the city touted Beere for making constitutional policing a longstanding commitment.
For example, the city continues to hold its court-ordered, biweekly meetings to review significant internal investigations. The meetings are attended by the mayor’s office, city administration, police commission leadership, city attorney’s office, and department leadership. The city will keep using these tools to maintain a "fair disciplinary system and strive for continuous improvement."
Beere's bio
Beere has served in many roles throughout his career, from the human trafficking unit to intelligence. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Golden Gate University and also holds an associate of science degree in administration of justice from the College of San Mateo.
The Source: Oakland city website, Mayor Barbara Lee, prior KTVU reporting.