Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao ousts former judge from city's Police Commission
OAKLAND – Former Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte is no longer on the embattled Oakland Police Commission after Mayor Sheng Thao on Tuesday told Harbin-Forte her services are no longer needed.
The former Alameda County Superior Court judge was not going to seek another term, she said. Her term expired in October 2022, and she remained in the seat at the discretion of the mayor.
Two factions have developed on the commission, prompting demands for resignations from both sides.
Harbin-Forte called for the resignation of Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins for alleged ethics violations related to his questioning of Police Commission chair Tyfahra Milele and tactics by his office.
Police Commissioners Regina Jackson and Marsha Peterson have demanded that Harbin-Forte and Milele resign.
Harbin-Forte said she will continue her efforts for constitutional policing and for an independent police commission in Oakland that is not unduly influenced by the Coalition for Police Accountability, an Oakland-based advocacy group that aims to hold Oakland police accountable but that Harbin-Forte alleges is aiming to control the commission.
"This is good," Harbin-Forte said by phone Wednesday morning about the loss of her position on the commission. "This is good. I feel good about it."
Thao said Harbin-Forte's seat on the commission "was a holdover position, which she graciously served at the pleasure of the Mayor's Office. I will be using the current vacancy to appoint my own person. I thank Judge Harbin-Forte for her service on the Commission."
