A conversation with Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong

While many U.S. cities have seen an increase in homicides over the past year, Oakland is among the hardest hit. Last year, the city saw its highest homicide toll in more than a decade, with 123 — a tally that excludes 11 deemed to be in self-defense, accidental or otherwise noncriminal, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Several instances of gun violence in the city of 425,000 have made headlines in the past few months: A security guard was shot and killed while protecting a news crew on assignment; a 23-month-old boy was killed in a car while he was sleeping by a stray bullet fired in a gunfight.

It doesn't seem like things will slow down. The city saw its first homicide in 2022 on New Year's Day. Even the Times conversation with Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong that took place late last year, and follows this introduction, was delayed because an officer was shot.

Armstrong is a prominent figure in the city's quest to handle crime. The Oakland Police Department has had four previous Black top cops, but Armstrong is the first born and raised in the city, according to Oaklandside.

During his 22-year OPD career, he has been a patrol officer, sergeant and robbery investigator, among other roles. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Sacramento State. He also has a master's degree in organizational leadership.

Before he took his job, Armstrong appeared to acknowledge the city's issues with violence. In a February 2021 by Mayor Libby Schaaf announcing his hiring, he explained that he wanted