”The Chief and The Activist” - Part 1

An avowed abolitionist and a police chief come face to face: as longtime friends, at a protest on a blocked Oakland freeway, and in our studio. 

Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong tells us about the deeply personal loss at age 13 that paved the way to his career in public safety, how Black Lives Matter and heightened awareness of police violence has affected his work, and his now-complicated relationship with residents of the poor Black community where he grew up.

[This is part one of a two-part interview.]

About Chief LeRonne Armstrong: Born and raised in West Oakland, Chief LeRonne Armstrong has worked in public safety for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in creating and implementing the Ceasefire model that reduced homicides nationwide by 50 percent over five years. Committed to building trust between police and community, Armstrong models what bridging looks like when the stakes are high.