Photo: Oakland Police Department; East Bay Times
Voters in Oakland, California voted overwhelmingly to approve a Civilian Police Commission—led by citizens—to oversee the Oakland Police Department, according to a NBC Bay Area news report.
On election day, Tuesday November 10, 82% of voters approved “Measure LL” to establish the civilian police commission, which will have the authority to: investigate police misconduct; hire and fire the chief of police—and impose discipline upon officers, among other powers.
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The measure follows a high-profile, sex abuse scandal and complaints of excessive force within the Oakland Police Department.
Incidentally, the Oakland councilmembers who authored the measure won re-election: Dan Kalb and Noel Gallo. Although the Oakland Police Officers Association paid for mail advertisements against Councilmember Kalb, and contributed money to candidate Viola Gonzales, who opposed Gallo, as reported by the East Bay Times.