Oakland police chief fired after alleged cover-up of officer misconduct: 'Significant cultural problems'

The city of Oakland, California, fired its police chief on Wednesday over the alleged cover-up of an officer's misconduct, marking the loss of the city's seventh head of police since 2016 as the department hits 20 years under federal oversight.

Democratic Mayor Sheng Thao announced she was firing Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong after an independent investigation concluded the chief and the department failed to properly investigate and discipline Sgt. Michael Chung, who was involved in a hit-and-run with his patrol car in 2021.

A separate incident also showed Chung fired his firearm inside an elevator at police headquarters, according to The Associated Press.

Thao, who took office last month, said in a lengthy statement the federal judge overseeing the city said he was "profoundly disappointed" in the evidence he'd seen, and the report demonstrated "significant cultural problems" within Oakland PD.

Oakland police chief LeRonne Armstrong speaks during a press conference outside City Hall in Oakland, California, on Aug. 30, 2022. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)