Alameda district attorney slams Oakland police over alleged drunk driving, calls ‘alarming trend’

ALameda County District Attorney Pamela Price held a news conference and confirmed that two Oakland police officers have been charged for allegedly driving under the influence, and “possibly” a third as well.

Price did not identify the officers by name during Monday’s conference and said she could not provide details about the allegations or cases.

Price said she wrote a letter to Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell and acting Police Chief James Beere, which she read at Monday’s news conference. However, Oakland police denied receiving such a letter Monday afternoon.

“Neither Chief Mitchell nor Assistant Chief Beere received the letter from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office,” a department spokesperson said in an email. “The Oakland Police Department (OPD) was notified of this letter by our media partners.”

In the letter read by Price, she asks the chief to “develop clear policies to prevent this potentially dangerous, deadly behavior from endangering the residents of Alameda County.”

“It is critically important that we hold police officers to the highest standards,” Price said. “These poisoning-related arrests are increasing significantly and suddenly and represent an alarming trend within the Oakland Police Department.”

Price also criticized the department’s oversight of its officers.

“Given the documented history of mistreatment in disciplinary matters by department leadership, the public has reason to be concerned about whether the department will treat such serious incidents with leniency,” she said. “As you know, my office cannot adequately hold officers accountable unless the appropriate agency promptly and thoroughly investigates the officer’s conduct.”

On Monday, Oakland police said they were aware of the allegations against the officers and were cooperating with outside law enforcement in any case.

“The employees in question were furloughed in June 2023 and October 2023 and the matters are currently under investigation,” a department spokesperson said. “This is an ongoing personnel matter. OPD cannot provide further details at this time.”