Oakland Police ordered to take extra steps to comply with reforms from Riders misconduct case

By Cecily Burt
Oakland Tribune

Posted: 01/24/2012 08:18:38 PM PST

Updated: 01/24/2012 08:24:30 PM PST

U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson has canceled a Thursday hearing to review Oakland Police department's progress on reforms ordered nine years ago to settle the Riders police misconduct case and instead ordered the department to work more closely with the monitor overseeing the agreement.

According to the Independent Monitor, the department is no closer to complying with the Negotiated Settlement Agreement than it was three months ago, despite Henderson's threats to appoint a federal receiver to oversee the department.

Attorneys representing 119 plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit requested Henderson set a date to appoint a receiver, but also said they would work with OPD to exhaust all other remedies before that happens.

On Tuesday, Henderson ordered Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan to consult with the monitor before carrying out any disciplinary actions or personnel changes; changing policy or the manual of rules; using tactical initiatives that have a direct bearing on the NSA; and procuring equipment used for compliance with the reforms.

"The Court hopes that these intermediate measures will be sufficient to move (the Oakland police department) into full compliance, but it also shares Plaintiffs' concerns that Defendants are taking far too long to achieve what they should have achieved at least four years ago," Henderson wrote in Tuesday's decision.

Henderson said the court will take action to place the department in receivership if compliance is not achieved soon