Jeff Loman, Public Safety Director
[May 31, 2008]

            Having just read Kelly Rayburn's Oakland Tribune Article about the coming departure of Lenore Anderson, I would like to make a few comments.

            About OPD Captain Jeff Loman, her interim replacement...  He's got a sense of humor and an infectious smile.  I know him well, and I was happy to see a sterling performance during his first appearance at a Public Safety Committee Meeting.  The panel members had lots of questions for him, and he stood alone without the usual entourage of OPD brass.  After his presentation, quietly, he let the policymakers speak without interruption, all the while flashing his broad smile and taking notes.  When they were through, he responded to the questions as a machine gun might mow down targets in order.  The dais was startled and pleased.  Larry Reid was in awe and said so.  I don't think anyone cared whether Jeff was accurate in his responses, or that he was particularly articulate or meaningful, but merely that he answered the questions directly, without generalities or excuses.  Of course, he had to say, for most of his answers, that he would get back to them... but he said it in a way that it was believable.  Or, was it just refreshing to see a new OPD face?  When he was finished, he sat down next to me and I had to give him a warm hand, my own smile, sincere congratulations, and share my pride that OPD shined for a few moments.

            No, I don't know how intellectually bright Jeff is.  I don't know what his analytical talents are, or whether he can think and write at the same time.  I do know, that under Chief Tucker he will be restrained and constrained, handcuffed if you will, from speaking his mind if he finds anything contrary to the "Tucker Dogma."  My own impression is that Jeff Loman is a wise choice, if an unknown gamble at this time.  I would regard him as one of the OPD's consummate politicians.  He can glad-hand with the best of them.  He is charming and always seems on the edge of something funny to say.  

            I know he's not an "answer man," as consistently no cogent answers have yet come from OPD leadership either. I don't know whether more importantly he's a "question-man." In other words, Jeff has not been in the center of brain-think at OPD for the past three years that I've been around.  He's been sequestered on the second floor running the Investigators.  The good news is that he was rarely on the Eighth Floor.  The bad news is that nothing innovative or fruitful has come out of the Second Floor.  This may be understandable, in that he was always under (then) Deputy Chief Jordan who didn't exactly light anything on fire (the "Stealth Deputy").  Loman was also unengaged in anything controversial or against the grain.  Jordan was Loman's boss in BOI.  Jordan and Loman may have been very smart (politically) in taking their stealth postures, who can tell?  On the other hand, neither raised the general effectiveness of OPD investigations, and likely this was just fine with Tucker.  After all, BOI (Bureau of Investigation) received no priorities and got virtual decimation.  I heard no mention that Loman or Jordan made any objections to the OPD Investigators' greatest tool (access to information), the Jail, which was an early victim of Chief Tucker's slash and burn tactics of OPD. 

Sure, everyone will rally to Jeff's wonderful personality, and that's fine, but they will also give him what they've given Tucker - the instant (in?)credibility of being "subject matter expert."  So, hold it right there...  Put Jeff on the spot.  Give him the tough questions, but demand the tough answers.  That will be his testing ground.  As for me, I will call Jeff and give him a binder of perhaps a hundred essays, not to influence him with any answers, but to prompt his own pallet of questions.

            I, for one, will gladly assist Jeff in any way I can. 

ronoz

ps.        The political interplay is fascinating.  Why not elevate Assistant Chief Howard Jordan to the post of Public Safety Director?  After all, he has obviously been the heir apparent to Tucker's post.  It was no secret, in the vortex of rumors and partial facts, that when Brown fired Tucker on Christmas Eve of 2006, Edgerly pushed hard for Jordan.  Brown appointed a bright Captain, Frank Low, who was incidentally an Asian. It was felt by many  that he did so for statewide political considerations.  But, alas, this is where I get lost in the political cauldron.  Why Loman?  Yes, he's a "safe" choice, and I like him.  But Jordan was the new "Assistant Chief."  It is true that no one has ever seen anything organizationally meaningful actually written by the hand of Jordan, but no one's ever seen anything actually written by Tucker either.  Since the office of Assistant Chief (Jordan's current position) is about as useless as two thumbs on the left hand, why not save some money and appoint him to the Public Safety Director slot?

            Why not Deputy Chief Israel?  Israel can write.  He can think.  He can communicate.  He has an independent mind.  Uh, oh... maybe that's why not.  Independent thinkers need not apply perhaps.  Besides, Israel believes in having a strong Beat System coordinated within a strong Patrol Division.  He also believes in a strong Investigative operation as the foundation for responsive policing.  No, Jeff and I certainly don't always agree.  In fact, to hear us debate in the past, it's as if we never agree.  Yet, in the course of argument or debate, call it what you will, I believe both of us respect the thought processes of the other and walk away with stimulation.  Jeff got a little humbling, and there are those who say his ego needed it, by being put into the Tucker Doghouse... somewhere that doesn't get much attention from Tucker - The Bureau of Investigation.  I thought it was terrific that he was put far from Tucker's daily (mis)direction.  To his credit, the first thing Israel did was to put out a general request to all the retired officers for any documented information about the Criminal Investigation Division staffing of years past [when there really was a C.I.D.].  But then of course, he was looking to the "old practices," that Tucker despises, to ask the "new questions."  Israel would have made a terrific Public Safety Director, but a lousy promoter of business-as-usual.

            Why not Kozicki?  He's bright.  He can think.  In fact, he carries all the water on the Eighth Floor for Tucker.  In the common OPD vernacular, "...he's wearing a skirt for Tucker."  He is the champion for Tucker's "Fluid Deployment," "Area Command," and "2-2-3-2-2-3 Shifts."  He has operated the field operations for the past three years exactly the testosterone way Tucker loves.  Kozicki announced the death of the Patrol Division as the backbone of the Department, to be replaced by his "Big SAC."  When a small group of senior OPD executives met on the Eighth Floor to hear this, I was among them.  I was the only one to debate Kozicki, and got him to stand his mighty six-six frame fully erect, face red with assertion, and bellowing voice, to make his announcement that his Big SAC is the backbone of OPD.  I turned to Tucker and told him that he might as well make the determination now, place all 252 Patrol Division Officers under Kozicki and Big SAC, or get back to putting all resources in a working OPD Beat System.  That was over two years ago, and I didn't realize then that Tucker had already made up his mind. An important note - I really like Kozicki.  He does have a brain.  He does have leadership and management skills.  I even think he's an independent thinker.  He just needs to quit holding hands with Tucker and be placed under a strong leader for a while who can channel his talents in the exact opposite direction.

            Loman was just yesterday a Captain.  What about the other Captains?  Were any considered for Public Safety Director?  There's Tull - very bright and an impressive figure.  Breshears has been single handedly running an entire Bureau.  What about calling back Viera, who just retired?  What about Rachal, who has a law degree, an awesome sense of the street, and a constant curiosity?  What about Figueroa, a Master's Degree holder, who was once considered for Assistant City Manager and who has been the entire impetus for NSA reform?  How about a Lieutenant?  There's Lawrence Green, who has brains and wit.  How about Jim Meeks, who has a UC degree and a "down-home" common sense and love for the job? [I introduced him to Dellums, as the man who wouldn't retire if Dellums was elected.].  How about Sharon Williams, the only female Command Officer on the entire OPD?  She's got brains and attitude, and is loved by constituents.

            My final point is that I don't know crap about politics, but an awful lot about Oakland and OPD.  The Police Department has a whole menu of wonderful selections, apart from political considerations.  In fact, the only consideration should be for "Public Safety."  Isn't that what is implied in "Public Safety Director?"  I know Jeff Loman, as I know many on OPD, and I know he can do a wonderful job, only if he is allowed.  But, herein lays the rub.  He knows what is being discussed in hushed whispers all around the Department about the Tucker failed leadership.  Let's assume that Jeff Loman, besides obviously being "likeable," is also analytical, creative, innovative, and communicates well.  This means transparently, fully, truthfully, consistently and constantly, quite a difference from the past 40 months of the Tucker administration.  Will the Public Safety Director work for Dellums and Oakland?