Oakland’s Police Commission faces legal challenges after secretly elevating Omar Farmer—twice rejected by the City Council—from alternate to full member without public notice, triggering allegations the vote violated California’s open meeting laws.

Secret Vote Sparks Legal Challenge

The commission voted March 26 to promote Farmer without listing the action on a public agenda, prompting Oakland physician Rajni Mandal to file a formal demand alleging violation of the Brown Act, California’s open-meeting law. The commission must retake the vote on Thursday to address what critics call an illegal appointment process that circumvented elected officials and public transparency requirements.

Farmer has aligned with the Anti Police-Terror Project, advocating for defunding police and redirecting resources to community alternatives. This stance clashes sharply with Oakland residents’ concerns. A recent survey found 92.1% of black respondents identified crime and public safety as their top concern—the highest level recorded for any issue among any demographic group surveyed.

Council Members Denounce End-Run Around Authority

Councilmember Ken Houston called the third attempt to install Farmer disrespectful, comparing it to an abusive relationship where officials ignore repeated rejections. Houston represents Oakland’s most underserved communities, where residents demand more police presence, not less. He told reporters his daughter cannot safely walk to the store in her own neighborhood, emphasizing his constituents want protection like everyone else.

Councilmember Kevin Jenkins contacted City Attorney Ryan Richardson to review the appointment process, stating Oakland residents deserve confidence that public safety oversight appointments follow the law and are conducted openly. Jenkins emphasized this concerns maintaining trust in government institutions, particularly those tied to protecting citizens from rising crime rates.

Pattern of Overreach Alleged

Mandal’s letter to city officials last fall detailed allegations that Farmer repeatedly exceeded the commission’s authority as defined in Oakland’s City Charter. The complaints include improper intervention in labor negotiations with the police union and attempting to break public meeting laws by pushing votes on items not properly placed on agendas. Oakland rejected Farmer’s appointment in October 2025 after what critics called a shallow search for qualified candidates.

The City Council confirms four regular commissioners and one alternate, while the mayor appoints three regular commissioners and one alternate. Mayor Barbara Lee did not respond to requests for comment on Farmer’s appointment, nor did the City Attorney’s Office address the legal questions surrounding the secretive vote.