Floyd Mitchell named Oakland police chief [Video]

Oakland’s new police chief is Floyd Mitchell, who was head of the Lubbock, Texas police until September, Mayor Sheng Thao announced Friday.

“Chief Mitchell is a strong leader and smart crime fighter who delivers results,” Thao said in a video posted on social media. “His commitment to proven crime reduction strategies including proactive policing and strong officer-community engagement vaulted him to the top of the list.”

Oakland had been without a chief since Thao fired LeRonne Armstrong more than a year ago. Armstrong was fired after a probe criticized the way he handled investigations into misconduct by Oakland officers.

The search for a replacement created protracted friction between Thao and the city’s police commission, which had included Armstrong among the final candidates for the job he had lost.

In a statement Friday, Armstrong said, “Public safety is the most important issue in Oakland. We have a dedicated police force that now has a new leader. I send my …