Criticizing the Oakland City Council for paying only "lip service" to resources for public safety, embattled Police Chief Wayne Tucker announced his resignation this morning.
Posted on 01/27/2009 12:08:49 PM PST by SmithL
Criticizing the Oakland City Council for paying only "lip service" to resources for public safety, embattled Police Chief Wayne Tucker announced his resignation this morning.
Tucker, at a press conference, spoke for about 10 minutes and then handed the podium to Mayor Ron Dellums.
"Quite frankly I've lost faith in the City Council," Tucker said. "They've given lip service to public safety in the city."
Oakland City Council members on Monday said that Tucker should resign or be fired because of scandals plaguing his department -- a position they planned to announce at a news conference today while calling for a vote of no-confidence.
Tucker's resignation will be effective Feb. 28.
The mayor didn't ask Tucker to resign, the chief said.
Deputy Chief Dave Kozicki, whose name has been mentioned as a possible interim replacement for the chief, sent a message on behalf of Tucker to police staff to let them know of the chief's resignation today.
Obtained by the Tribune, the memo states in the past three months Tucker has met with the Mayor four times and discussed his desire to resign. But, Kozicki adds, "The mayor (and others in city government) on each occasion dissuaded him from resigning. The Mayor still maintains strong support for the Chief."
According to the email sent on behalf of Tucker, "the primary reason behind the chief's decision is his lack of faith in the City Council. The chief stated the council is unable/unwilling to properly staff, fund and equip OPD."
After the press conference, Councilmember Jane Brunner said she didn't agree with Tucker's assessment of the council's support, saying the council almost always implemented the budget that the chief had asked for.
"The bottom line is he focused too much on internal investigation and not enough on coming up with a plan to fight crime," said Brunner, who represents North Oakland.
Tucker was appointed to the job in February 2005 by former mayor Jerry Brown. Before that, Tucker had a 38-year career with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department before retiring in January 2005 as assistant sheriff.
The Oakland Police Officers Association issued a statement on Tucker's resignation, saying that while they have always had differences with the chief, in the past few months the relationship has been as good as it ever was.
"The city has a good opportunity to put a chief in place who hopefully can turn around the morale of this beaten-down police force," said Sgt. Dom Arotzarena, president of the police association.
He added there are several candidates in the police department who could be promoted to the top job.
"I challenge city officials to publicly embrace and support our police department rather than criticizing it," Arotzarena said.
Rough town.. even for cops.
Kalifornicate’s Oakland — trying hard to mimic the decline and degradation of Detroit, and doing quite well.
“Red” Dellums is mayor of Oakland? That explains a lot.
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