Oakland City Council Delivers 7-0 Blow to Police Oversight by Rejecting Commission Reappointments

Oakland, CA – The Oakland City Council unanimously voted 7-0 on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, to reject the reappointments of Police Commission Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta and alternate commissioner Omar Farmer. This decision has ignited a fierce debate over the future of civilian police oversight in the city, marking a significant shift in the council's approach to police accountability. The vote leaves the Police Commission without its chair and an alternate, potentially hindering its critical functions.

Council members cited concerns about the selection process and the commissioners' effectiveness, with some arguing for improved recruitment standards. At-large Councilmember Rowena Brown stated her decision was "not about any individual nominee; it's about ensuring the process meets the highest standards of fairness and public confidence." District 7 Councilmember Ken Houston accused the commissioners of "Subtle passive aggressive disrespect to our elected officials," adding that he now understood "what the Oakland Police Department had to endure for all these years."

Prominent Oakland political organizer and former mayoral candidate Seneca Scott lauded the council's action, declaring it a pivotal moment. > "Please take time out of your day to send a quick note of thanks to our Council-members for their vote last night and for upholding accountability," Scott posted on social media. He further characterized the vote as "ahistoric," noting, > "It was ahistoric moment for the City Council, where they voted against the anti-police activists for the first time in about 7 years!"

However, the decision was met with sharp backlash from police accountability advocates. The Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) condemned the vote as "a politically motivated attack on independent oversight and a blatant step backward toward unchecked police power in Oakland." Cat Brooks, co-founder of APTP, accused Councilmember Kevin Jenkins of using a "baseless letter from a right-wing agitator" to attack the civilian body.

The Oakland Police Commission, established in 2016 by Measure LL, was designed to provide robust civilian oversight of the Oakland Police Department (OPD), which has been under federal court oversight since 2003. Critics of the council's vote, including the Coalition for Police Accountability, expressed concern that this action undermines the commission's mandate and could impact the OPD's ongoing efforts to exit federal monitoring. The vote also follows the recent resignation of OPD Chief Floyd Mitchell, which some speculated was partly due to frustrations with the oversight board.

Despite the council's rejection, Garcia-Acosta and Farmer are permitted under state law to continue serving in a "hold-over" capacity until successors are appointed. The selection panel is expected to reconvene to address the vacancies, though the path forward for police oversight in Oakland remains uncertain amidst deep divisions.