Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee on Thursday named interim chief James Beere as the city's new police chief, a move applauded by civil rights attorneys, the Chamber of Commerce, and the police union alike, who see him as the long-awaited leader to guide the department out of its 23-year federal oversight.

Beere, a 29-year Oakland Police Department (OPD) veteran and native Oaklander, brings critical institutional knowledge and community trust to a department striving to end the longest federal police oversight in U.S. history.

Beere has been with the Oakland Police Department since 1997, serving a distinguished career that also included a stint as a U.S. Marine. Having lived in Oakland for approximately three decades, he possesses deep roots in the community he now leads. Civil rights attorney John Burris, who famously initiated the 2000 lawsuit that compelled federal oversight of the OPD following the notorious "Riders scandal," lauded Beere's appointment. "There's great continuity having an Oakland person," Burris stated, emphasizing Beere's understanding of the city. He further added, "He cares, and he will be very good for Oakland." Burris specifically highlighted Beere's intimate knowledge of the Negotiated Settlement Agreement, the formal legal framework for the federal oversight that has governed the department for over two decades, suggesting Beere is uniquely positioned to guide the OPD out of this prolonged period of external monitoring.

Mayor Lee, in her public remarks, underscored the importance of Beere's local ties and institutional knowledge for the future of the department. "I wanted someone who understands policing and understands Oakland," Lee articulated at a news conference, expressing strong confidence that "James Beere is prepared to lead on Day 1." Beere, for his part, conveyed a profound sense of honor and humility in assuming the top leadership role. He pledged a continued commitment to reducing crime rates and implementing advanced, 21st-century policing strategies within the force of approximately 620 sworn officers. "We're moving forward in the city of Oakland," Beere remarked, describing the gravity and almost surreal nature of his new responsibility as the city's highest-ranking law enforcement official.

The formal announcement by Mayor Lee followed an initial report by KTVU, which cited two independent sources. Beere's appointment is slated for introduction to the Oakland City Council on July 17, a session during which his salary and other contractual terms will be finalized. His predecessor's compensation was listed at $370,000 annually. A formal swearing-in ceremony for Chief Beere is anticipated in August, marking the official commencement of his tenure. Notably, Beere's ascent positions him as the 12th individual to serve as either permanent or interim police chief in Oakland since 2013, a statistic that highlights the significant leadership turnover and challenges the department has faced throughout its prolonged period under federal oversight.