Police Commission
The purpose of the Oakland Police Commission is to oversee the Oakland Police Department to ensure its policies, practices, and customs conform to national standards of constitutional policing, and to oversee the Office of the Inspector General, led by the civilian Office of Inspector General for the Department, as well as the Community Police Review Agency (CPRA), led by the Executive Director of the Agency, which investigates police misconduct and recommends discipline. The Police Commission is comprised of seven regular and two alternate members, enabled by Oakland City Code section 604. All commissioners are Oakland residents and serve in a volunteer capacity.
The Police Commission & Staff
Police Commission Statements & News
Statement from the Chair of the Police Commission
RE: Adequate Funding for Effective, Legally Mandated Civilian Police Oversight
In response to concerns shared during the January 23, 2025, Regular Police Commission meeting regarding the proposed budget cuts to the Oakland Police Commission (OPC), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and Community Police Review Agency (CPRA).
FAQ: City of Oakland (City Council) Public Safety Committee vs. Oakland Police Commission
When the OPC is the Right Choice:
If you are filing a police misconduct complaint
If you want to challenge OPD policies on discipline, use of force, or officer accountability
If you believe OPD officers engaged in misconduct, racial profiling, or excessive force
When the OPC May Not Be the Right Choice:
Crime Prevention & Public Safety Policies → If your concern is about overall crime rates, community safety programs, or emergency response, the City of Oakland Public Safety Committee (City Council) is the better venue.
OPD Staffing, Budgets & Policy Decisions → The Police Commission does not control police funding or staffing levels—these are decided by the City Council's Public Safety Committee.
General Public Safety Concerns → If your issue is about fire safety, emergency services, or crime prevention programs, the City Council Public Safety Committee handles those, not OPC.
Immediate Police Response Issues → If you're reporting a crime in progress or have concerns about OPD's patrol response, you should contact OPD directly or bring concerns to the City Council's Public Safety Committee if they are about systemic issues.
The OPC ensures police accountability, but broader public safety issues should be directed to the City Council Public Safety Committee.
Get Involved
The Police Commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.
Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chamber. All meeting dates and times are subject to change.
The Oakland Police Commission is committed to transparency in how we do our work. Recognizing that not all our meetings are open to the public, and sometimes work is completed outside of meetings and status is provided at the meeting - this does not ever prohibit community or any stakeholder from reaching out and getting involved.
Members of the public are always welcome, invited and encouraged to share ideas, views, concerns, suggested language edits and perspectives on anything - in particular any OPD policy the Oakland Police Commission is reviewing.
Ways to engage the Commission:
- Via email directly to a Commissioner
- Via voice message when you call 510.238.2187
- Via public comment during open forum portions of Police Commission Meetings (second and fourth Thursday evening of every month)
Join Meetings
MEETINGS LIST
Subscribe to Distribution List
Subscribe to the Commission Email Distribution List
Upcoming / Future Agenda Items
Upcoming / Future Agenda Items
Your Voice Matters: Meeting Question/Comment Submission Form (24 hours before meetings)
Meeting Question / Comment Submission Form
Join Ad Hoc Committees
To join an ad hoc committee as a featured community participant, email the specific Police Commission ad hoc committee chair.
Applicable for ad hoc committees that are open to the public.
Access Ad Hoc Meeting Recordings
Dormant & Archived Ad Hoc Committees
Annual Reports
OPC Pursuit Policy Updates
Click Links to Access Commission Updates
Pursuit Policy Resources
Subscribe to our distribution list
Commission Resolutions
Police Commission Rules & Code of Conduct
Meeting Resources
Below are links to efforts by the Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission to increase awareness regarding suicides. 9/19/24 OPC Meeting Agenda Topic:
See additional resources below.
Complaints of Police Misconduct - Community Police Review Agency
Complaints of police misconduct give community members an opportunity to be heard and help the Community Police Review Agency (CPRA) hold police officers accountable.
Complaints of misconduct may prevent other community members from having similar experiences. Complaints may result in the discipline of an officer and/or alert police supervisors to initiate changes in policy and training.
Any member of the public may file a complaint. CPRA can receive any type of complaint against a sworn member of the Oakland Police Department.
What information will help my complaint?
- The incident date, time, and exact location;
- The officer's name and serial number;
- Witness names, addresses, and telephone numbers;
- Any other evidence you feel may be important such as copies of citations, photographs, audio or video recordings, etc.
File a Police Misconduct Complaint Online
Download a CPRA Police Misconduct Complaint Form
You can download and complete the complaint form in English, Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese. Please submit the completed form by mail or fax.
Fax the Completed Form to: (510) 238-6834
Call to Request a CPRA Police Misconduct Complaint Form via Mail or Fax
Call Us: (510) 238-3159
Call us to request a complaint form that will be mailed or faxed to you.
If you need language assistance, we have interpreters and translators.
About
Meet Oakland's Police Commissioners & Staff
The Police Commission is comprised of seven regular and two alternate members, enabled by Oakland City Code section 604. All commissioners are Oakland residents and serve in a volunteer capacity.
The Police Commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chamber. All meeting dates are subject to change.