Police Commission Statement
Post-Vote Update on OPD Vehicle Pursuit Policy and Next Steps
Dear Oakland Community,
On September 25, 2025, the Oakland Police Commission unanimously voted to approve changes to the Oakland Police Department’s Vehicle Pursuit Policy, as recommended and supported by Chief Mitchell. This decision was the result of a process that carefully weighed community input, public safety concerns, and operational realities.
We want to personally thank everyone who showed up, spoke out, and contributed to this conversation — especially the young members of the Oakland community, who shared an impressive range of thoughtful and nuanced perspectives.
While this vote marks an important milestone, it is not the end of the work — in many ways, it’s just the beginning. The policy update is one piece of a much broader strategy to strengthen safety, accountability, and trust in our city.
Now, our focus turns to collaboration. We know that real progress will require us to work together — across agencies, across communities, and across perspectives.
That’s why we have extended an invitation to Oakland’s leadership stakeholders — including the Department of Violence Prevention, the Mayor’s Office, the City Administrator, City Council, and the Public Safety Committee — to join us in an ongoing, citywide conversation about public safety.
Some of the areas where we’re eager to partner and explore solutions — and where we’ve heard strong interest from the community — include:
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Investing in technology like GPS tracking systems and dash cameras in all police vehicles to strengthen accountability, transparency, and officer safety.
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Improving interagency coordination with the California Highway Patrol and other partners to align operations and communication.
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Strengthening public outreach and messaging, particularly for vulnerable populations, and exploring real-time notification systems to keep residents informed.
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Assessing impacts on transportation and infrastructure to ensure city planning supports community safety.
Chief Mitchell shared that the new Vehicle Pursuit Policy is targeted to go into effect on January 1, 2026. This timeline gives OPD an opportunity to train all personnel and ensures accurate year-over-year data once implementation begins.
We will follow his lead as the implementation date approaches.
There is no single solution to Oakland’s public safety challenges — but there is a shared responsibility.
This policy change is an important step forward, and we look forward to continuing this work together with all of you.
Thank you for your partnership, your passion, and your belief in what’s possible for our city.
With appreciation,
Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta
On behalf of the Oakland Police Commission