James Beere was sworn in as Oakland’s new police chief on Wednesday.
At a packed ceremony in City Hall, speakers including Mayor Barbara Lee and Fire Chief Damon Covington praised Beere’s dedication to the job and the city.
Beere has been a member of the Oakland Police Department since 1997. Raised in San Francisco, he is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as command sergeant major. He has been interim police chief since Floyd Mitchell stepped down in December 2025.
Beere’s appointment comes as the Police Department prepares to exit federal court oversight, which has been in place for 23 years following the city’s Riders police brutality and corruption scandal in 2000. In May, the department’s federal monitor reported that Oakland police had successfully complied with all 51 court-ordered reforms that arose from the scandal.
Beere will also be stepping into the role at a time when Oakland PD faces staffing shortages: in 2025, the department had 605 sworn officers, a five-year low. The city had 73 fewer officers than its authorized budget and 272 below the projected baseline based on staff workload, according to a report presented by the Oakland Office of Inspector General.
Lee pointed to Beere’s commitment to recruitment, fiscal responsibility and public safety partnerships as evidence that he would rise to the occasion. Beere’s plans include expanding the department’s cadet program and supporting the city’s Ceasefire strategy approach to reducing gang violence.
“He knows policing. He knows Oakland. Together, we are building a long-term vision for OPD with our residents,” Lee said.
According to City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Beere stands out as a chief who is dedicated to the role’s responsibilities.
“Chief Beere is easy to get a hold of. That hasn’t always been the case. Chief Beere deeply cares about this job. That hasn’t always been the case,” Jenkins said.
Covington, the fire chief, also lauded Beere’s choice to stay on as chief instead of retiring.
“He chose to continue serving because he believed he still had more to give to Oakland,” Covington said.
Covington believes Beere takes on the office with the right skills to lead it during a period of transition.
“He has the intellect to make sound decisions, the compassion to lead people, and the relationships that tie people together,” Covington said.
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