Oakland’s mayor and police commission are considering the case against OPD Chief LeRonne Armstrong. We’re publishing a key secret document.
Author Archives: Darwin BondGraham
Before joining The Oaklandside as News Editor, Darwin BondGraham was a freelance investigative reporter covering police and prosecutorial misconduct. He has reported on gun violence for The Guardian and was a staff writer for the East Bay Express. He holds a doctorate in sociology from UC Santa Barbara and was the co-recipient of the George Polk Award for local reporting in 2017. He is also the co-author of The Riders Come Out at Night, a book examining the Oakland Police Department's history of corruption and reform.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland police commission to create a ‘discipline committee’ in bid to take control of Chief Armstrong case
The commission expressed frustration with being sidelined in investigations of misconduct that threaten to derail OPD’s reform program.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Confidential files shed more light on turmoil behind Oakland police chief’s leave
Records leaked to The Oaklandside reveal that a sergeant who avoided punishment in a hit-and-run case earned nearly $500,000 in 2021, including overtime for special Chinatown patrols.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
District Attorney Price to reopen 8 police killings for possible criminal prosecution
The new DA has asked for case files from various police agencies, including two Oakland police shootings from over a decade ago.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Mayor Thao announces leadership team, including interim city administrators
G. Harold Duffey and Steven Falk will fill in as interim city administrators while the city searches for a permanent replacement for Ed Reiskin.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Give Chief Armstrong his job back, community members say at large downtown rally
Armstrong, placed on leave pending further investigation, told supporters he’ll fight to keep his job.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
OPD Chief Armstrong hires crisis consultant, says he deserves his job back
Echoing fired former Oakland police chief Anne Kirkpatrick, LeRonne Armstrong accused a federal monitor of abusing his job for profit.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Fire Oakland Police Chief Armstrong? Mayor Thao is waiting on more information
Thao said she’ll hold all officers accountable for misconduct, regardless of rank. The police commission or federal monitor could also fire the chief.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Why Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong was placed on leave
Oakland police have long complained about favoritism when it comes to disciplinary matters. Armstrong’s handling of an eyebrow-raising internal investigation could cost him his job.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong placed on administrative leave
The chief is facing disciplinary action related to his alleged failures to hold subordinate officers accountable.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘Systemic failures’ found in Oakland police investigations of officer misconduct
A sergeant who failed to report a hit-and-run and later destroyed evidence after an elevator shooting features in a new report on OPD’s internal affairs.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Alameda supervisors greenlight recount for Oakland mayor’s race
Intended to provide more transparency and accountability, the Nov. 8 election recount will include Oakland Unified’s hotly contested D4 race.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Nikki Fortunato Bas is re-elected Oakland City Council president
The City Council also plans to return to in-person meetings by March.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Timeline: How the Alameda County Registrar of Voters ran—and fumbled—the November election
Two months after Election Day, a school board race is still undecided. Lawsuits and a possible recount loom. The Oaklandside reconstructed how we got here.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Recount for real? County supervisor calls for an independent recount of Oakland’s ranked-choice elections
The possible recount comes after the Registrar of Voters disclosed that it made an error tallying ballots, possibly resulting in the wrong winner in a school board race.
Posted inHealth & Environment
A storm is expected to pummel the East Bay for the next 48 hours
A 10-day “Pineapple Express” is expected to cause flooding, debris flows, downed trees, and other hazards in Oakland.
Posted inHow We Work
Was 2022 the year Oakland got serious about making its roads safer?
The Oaklandside’s Jose Fermoso talks about the big stories in road safety and transportation in 2022.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Alameda County Registrar miscounted Oakland ballots for 2022 election
The OUSD District 4 race was “affected” by an “issue,” according to the registrar’s office.
Posted inHow We Work
Global Oakland: a year of reporting on immigrants, small business, and lots more
The Oaklandside’s Ricky Rodas reflects on a year of local stories that made big connections to world events.
Posted inHow We Work
Oakland’s housing and homelessness programs faced scrutiny in 2022
Reporter Natalie Orenstein spoke about the past year of news on her beat, from rent caps to encampment sweeps.
