Statement from Mayor Barbara Lee on Ending Federal Oversight for OPD

Published on September 29, 2026

Today is a historic day for Oakland. After 23 years, the longest in the country’s history, the federal court has determined that the Oakland Police Department (OPD) has achieved substantial compliance with the Negotiated Settlement Agreement (NSA), bringing an end to over two decades of federal oversight.

When I took office 16 months ago, I made a firm commitment to build on the cultural transformation already underway within OPD. During my first court appearance on July 10, 2025, I stated I wanted federal oversight to end under my watch, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped us accomplish this goal.

Getting Oakland out of federal oversight required stable leadership, accountability, breaking down silos, and a sustained commitment from the top of City government. I made that commitment to Oaklanders, and from my first days in office, I made it a priority of my administration.

Constitutional policing is a core value of our City, and today, that commitment is no longer just aspirational, it is our standard. Under my administration, we have worked to strengthen the systems, leadership, and accountability necessary to make that standard sustainable to ensure we do not lose sight of why these reforms were required in the first place.

Accountability is not optional; it is our obligation to the people we serve. Strong civilian oversight and constitutional policing go hand in hand. Oakland is fully prepared, invested, and ready to take total ownership of the path ahead.

Today's court conference reflected both the immense progress achieved and the shared duty to sustain it:

• Judge William H. Orrick: Noted that the systems currently in place are working and must become "part of the DNA of everyone at OPD." When asking Police Chief James Beere whether the department was prepared to sustain constitutional policing independently, Chief Beere affirmed: "Yes, Your Honor, we live and breathe it." Judge Orrick commended City leadership for embodying these standards, concluding that a final order of dismissal will be issued in the coming months.
• Plaintiffs' Attorneys Jim Chanin and John Burris: Expressed support for ending oversight today, describing it as a progression rather than an endpoint. Channeling Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention, Burris noted that the question is not merely about creating a standard, but whether we can keep it. He commended the Mayor’s appointment of leadership at OPD and expressed optimism for the department's future.
• Independent Monitor Chief Robert Warshaw: Emphasized that today represents "not a ceiling, but a floor—not an end to something but the chance for a new beginning." When highlighting the Mayor’s role, the Independent Monitor said when you have someone with such experience, as a Member of Congress, former State Senator and Assemblymember, who is now Mayor of Oakland, “good things can happen, and they have.” He commended the Mayor’s steadfast commitment to accountability, leadership, and executive oversight, affirming that OPD is well-positioned to maintain its forward momentum.

Constitutional policing requires whole-city ownership, and reaching this day has been an all hands on deck effort.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Judge Orrick, Judge Henderson, Independent Monitor Chief Robert Warshaw, former Mayors Jean Quan, Libby Schaaf, and the late Ron Dellums and City Administrator Dan Lindheim, as well as the City Council, City Administration, City Attorney’s Office, the Oakland Police Commission and Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta, the Community Police Review Agency, Office of the Inspector General, the community advocates who have tirelessly pushed for accountability, and the men and women of the Oakland Police Department for their hard work in achieving substantial compliance.

Our next chapter will be defined by integrity, transparency, humility, and an unwavering dedication to public safety and community trust. We know there is still work to do, and we are fully committed to doing it together.