Accountability at the Top of OPD
[March 25, 2008]

            Oakland gets a new Police Chief… While Chief Tucker's eleven months in 2005 might arguably not be held to his account, it should be noted that he came in with an apparent vengeance to change what he perceived as an outsider to be “Old fashioned OPD practices” (getting rid of the Jail, abandoning Planning and Research, Vice Control and Juvenile specialties, decimating Crime Analysis, shifting key personnel randomly, and exercising other prerogatives granted carte blanche to his new role).  Perhaps most telling was his closure of the nationally famous Beat Health Unit, headed by Sergeant Bob Crawford, started under Chief Hart, and sponsored by the community based OCO.  He arrived at OPD intent on placing the Police Department on the same 2-2-3-2-2-3 12-hour odd shift pattern introduced at the ACSO.  He also diminished seriously the roles of Patrol Beats and Investigations in favor of an over-balance of "Big SAC" and Crime Reduction Teams (CRT's).  He favored "fluid deployments" and put full stock in Captain Kozicki's methods of operation.  Only 21 of the 35 Patrol Beats received regular staffing (Freesmeyer) and CID was reduced to 41 Investigators for 30,000 Part 1 crimes.  As for citizen appeals, Chief Tucker was heard to say that "responding to calls was old news."

            Tucker’s first year; the honeymoon… Nevertheless, Chief Tucker's first year, 2005, saw an (un)impressive increase in all crimes across the board over Chief Word's last year in office.  Violent crimes were up +11%, Murders were up +13%, Aggravated Assaults were up +23%, and the large body of all Part 1 offenses were up +6%.  Crime was definitely on the rise, but surely a "honeymoon" period was in order to let the new administration settle in.

            His second year; the telling…  Turning our attention to 2006, after almost two years of transition, allowing the new priorities to sift themselves through his "re-engineered" organization, it is certainly credible to check the crime rates more closely.  After all, in 2005, the NSA (Negotiated Settlement Agreement) principals found new teeth and backed the new Chief with strong additional powers.  Measure Y was sitting with an open treasure chest for the new Chief.  The Chief had more sworn officers on the force than ever before.  In addition, he hired three dozen "annuitants" (retired police officers) to work in civilian positions, and set about on the most massive police overtime expenditure ever.  The ACSO and many outside agencies were called in.  Kozicki was given priority and free rein.  In other words, 2006 was in full swing and the results waited to be tabulated as being fully accountable for this Chief who now completed his full second year in office.

            Tucker and Kozicki…  Comparing 2006 with Chief Word's last year in office (2004), was further devastating for Chief Tucker.  Violent Crimes were up +49%, Murders were up +79%, Aggravated Assaults were up +40%, and overall Part 1 crimes were up +18%.  Something clearly wasn't working, and something drastic had to be done.  Chief Tucker early on had inoculated himself from criticism by shifting the focus on a distraction that held the fault for his effectiveness on two main reasons [and a litany of excuses]:  (1) Not enough manpower; and (2) the obstructionist OPOA [both have since been credibly disputed].  Operationally, Chief Tucker remained adamant.  He continued in 2007 with his 2005 and 2006 priorities and dug the hole for his style even deeper.  All attention continued to bolster Captain Kozicki's operational methods.  While Chief Tucker insisted that morale was not important [addressing Sergeants in-service training], Captain Kozicki seemed in meetings to hold the Patrol Division in contempt.  The coup de grace, and the death knell for the last vestige of "old practices," Beat officers and Patrol Division, was apparent when Captain Kozicki stood at a senior executive meeting and announced that the Patrol Division was “No longer the Backbone of the Department" - his Big SAC (Strategic Command) and CRT's were now the essence of Oakland policing.  We would see “hot spot” and “fluid” deployments instead.  Tucker agreed and promoted Kozicki to Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Field Operations to gold plate this new standard in their brand of “Area Command” and “2-2-3-2-2-3” 12-hour shifts.  "Captain Dave" brought motorcycle boots to the "Eighth Floor" and drove a SWAT command vehicle full time.  His status was cemented as the only command officer to have four full time assigned vehicles.  He led the City Negotiating Team to "ram the [2-2-3-2-2-3] down their [OPOA] throats."   [His words, in an executive meeting.]

            2007 was equally devastating in terms of the crime numbers -- the only real measure of any police administration.  Again, comparing with Chief Word's 2004, Chief Tucker's Violent Crimes were now up to 19.45 per thousand, compared with 12.77 under Word (+52%).  Murders were still up.  Homicides were up to .313, compared with .206 (+52%).  Aggravated Assaults reached a high of 9.7, compared with 5.4 (+80%).  This “paradigm escalation” was beyond the pale of "standard deviation" and reached a new sustained level of violence in Oakland.  The public felt it, the administration muted it (by comparing with 2006), City Hall bought it [by focusing on "shortage" of manpower and "breaking the back" of the OPOA], and the City Council and involved Committees were frustrated by it [for lack of information, planning or direction by the Chief].

            Chief Tucker gains his stride…  2008 saw the Chief gaining his "management rights" [the same ones never actually lost, by him or by previous Chiefs], and on January 12 he fully instituted his “Geographic Policing” "Area Command", renaming the old 1911 OPD Precinct System and Geographic Policing also heralded as “progress” at the turn of the last century.  Lacking any sort of plan, strategy or tactics,  he called it a "work-in-progress".  As stated earlier, the annualized pace of Violent Crimes, Murders, and Aggravated Assaults are even higher during the first three months of 2008.  Murders are up +58% over last year alone, and listed as "Average" on the Daily Crime Report.  Aggravated Assaults are up +3% over 2007, while 2007 was already up +80% over Chief Word's 2004.

            So who is accountable?  If Area Command was formulated as an effort to hold commanders "accountable," then certainly they will no longer be able to excuse failures for lack of manpower or interference by the OPOA.  This is to say, that without prejudice for Wayne Tucker the man, he will/must sooner or later be held accountable for his results after three years in office.  It is interesting to note, that Oakland does not offer its Chiefs "contracts," as New York does.  New York law states that its Commissioners shall hold five year terms.  Yet, in the past, they were only in office an average of two years because they were held accountable for the crime conditions.  It is inevitable that Oakland, with the objectivity of choosing a new head coach, would want to replace Chief Tucker at some point; hopefully sooner than later.

            The Chief selection process…  Politics, being what it is, have always selected a Chief based on the "profile" of the candidate.  Mayor Brown tried to oust Chief Tucker at the end of 2006 and replace him with an Asian OPD Captain.  Deputy Chief Jordan was Edgerly’s pick and a close second.  Whether this was political "profiling" or not is for historians to decide.  It is important to note here, however, that any consideration for a new Chief of Police for Oakland must be to find the best man or woman available for the job.  Anyone inside form the rank of Lieutenant up is eligible, as is anyone from the outside.  It would be best, of course, to engage someone having advanced through the ranks, worked on the streets and the neighborhoods, and someone who has the backing of personnel.  It is also critically important, in the case of Mayor Dellum's vision for a Model City, that the new Chief be intimately involved and knowledgeable with Oakland affairs of all sorts. 

            The next Chief?  Mayor Brown’s selection for Chief has since retired and works now for a Federal agency.  The heir apparent, perhaps unwittingly or yet unwillingly, is the newly appointed Assistant Chief Howard Jordan.  He has all the outward appearance of stature and bearing for a Police Chief… as does Tucker.  He is liked generally by the body of OPD personnel… unlike Tucker.  He has worked closely with Chief Tucker, but not necessarily involved with pushing the agenda of Chief Tucker.  Described as the “stealth commander,” Jordan has never been expressive or outspoken. He commanded the Bureau of Investigation since his appointment to Deputy Chief. 
           
            Deputy Chief Israel is also a top contender, and is known for his avowed preference for Patrol Beats and support for Investigations.  Israel was transferred to the Bureau of Investigations [doghouse?] after he criticized the efficacy of certain aspects of the current push for Area Command, and was replaced in the Bureau of Field Operations by the new Deputy Chief (“yes-man”) Dave Kozicki.  One handicap, perhaps, is that barely ten years ago Jordan and Israel were Patrolmen and have risen rapidly to top ranks barely in their forties. 

            To find Oakland experience, there are also choices available in Chief Nichelini of Vallejo (former OPD Deputy Chief], Chief Word in Vacaville [Former OPD Chief], Chief Davis in East Palo Alto [former OPD Captain], Chief Matthews of Alameda [former OPD commander], Chief Dunbar in Pleasant Hill [former OPD Deputy Chief], and a long list of ex-OPD executives.  Also, notable for their expertise in being able to sort the wheat from the chaff are former OPD Chief George Hart (19 years OPD, and Chief Gain (6 years OPD and former Chief in San Francisco).  They are true Oakland subject matter experts to vet anyone with respect to knowing where and what the old dots were and how they might be stepping stones toward needed innovation.  One cannot go into the future without control of the present.  One cannot know the present without knowing the past.  Oakland is a unique city like no other.  It will take homegrown solutions for homegrown problems.

            Conclusion…  In any event, Oakland must not repeat the errors of placing anyone in the top cop job based on politics or profile.  The position should not be unduly influenced by resume or endorsements.  Sure, these factors weigh heavily for a final candidates' list, but from there we must have a demanding and challenging introspection of the candidate's real qualifications - his/her frames of reference and processing powers.  There should be relevance and credibility in thinking, along with grounding and innovation.  Let's get a glimpse into the language of a candidate to witness originality.  Forget all the education, experience, and name-dropping, as being a given.  What does this person bring to the table, much as for a PhD dissertation, and in a panel review process, to indicate a grasp of leadership and management skill sets drawn from more than just taking promotional exams?  What has this person gathered about Oakland's past, present and promise for the future, and the role of heading the most essential aspect - Public Safety?  What is the breadth of his/her curiosity with respect to the lessons of leadership and management in the changing evolution of private business?  How about some real ideas for nailing down the 15-year elusive "community-policing?"  The vapor of generalized promises must be condensed into believable courses of informed and planned actions.  It is not enough to have an oral interview with the Mayor and Council.  How about having the candidates write a treatise in their own words of their assessment of OPD/Oakland current circumstances and recommended course of comprehensive and holistic actions?  This can serve as deposition for grueling questioning by the Mayor and Council, rather than polite deference.  Too much is at stake.

            Chief Tucker, nice guy, but… Again, please do not read this as an indictment of Wayne Tucker the person.  I owe my allegiance to Rome, and not to Caesar.  The important thing is to develop a winning team for Public Safety, and the Head Coach must necessarily be viewed on his record.  Chief Tucker has described his placement as being a "Change Agent," and indeed the change has not worked out for the best.  That OPD needed change cannot be argued.  Violent Crime was too high in 2000, and experimentation to lower it was taking place under Chief Word.  It was in the low 5000+ range for five years and it should likely have been reduced more as the secular trends of California and the nation indicated.  Surprisingly, under Chief Tucker's change agent status, working with actually many more resources that Chief Word, the Violent Crime rate indeed shifted by paradigm proportions to a new three year range in the 7,900+ range.  If Chief Word's efforts were not good enough, then Chief Tucker's have certainly failed even worse.

ronoz