High-ranking Oakland cops, including deputy chief, face serious discipline for allegedly botching investigation

Deputy Chief Drennon Lindsey faces termination over the handling of the internal affairs case of homicide Detective Phong Tran.

OAKLAND – High-ranking Oakland police officers are facing serious discipline for alleged misconduct related to the internal affairs investigation of a detective accused of bribing a confidential witness in a murder case and later lying about it, multiple sources have confirmed.

Oakland Police Department Deputy Chief Drennon Lindsey — the wife of former police Chief LeRonne Armstrong — and lead IA investigator Sgt. Mega Lee were served with termination notices, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Capt. Kevin Kaney faces a lengthy suspension, while Lt. Hamann Nguyen could end up demoted, the sources said. All four officers have the right to appeal the proposed discipline, and appear before a hearing officer at what is known as a Skelly hearing.

Multiple attempts to reach attorneys representing them were not successful. Separately, Lindsey did not respond to messages.

The proposed discipline, which came from an investigation outside of the Oakland Police Department, is linked to a current criminal case against Phong Tran. The longtime homicide detective, who is facing a jury trial for alleged perjury and bribing a witness, helped convict two men of murder who were later set free once the money-for-testimony allegations surfaced.

The DA’s office and others are reviewing more cases involving Tran – which total in the dozens if not hundreds – and it is possible that other officers may face internal discipline. Tran, who remains on leave, has pleaded not guilty.

Independent investigative reporter and author Ali Winston broke the news last month, reporting that senior OPD officials “pushed back on the district attorney’s admonitions about the problems with Tran’s work” in a murder case and soft-pedaled the IA investigation. Ultimately, IA investigators reached an “unfounded” finding, clearing Tran of misconduct.

It is rare although not unheard of in Oakland for a deputy chief — a small group of commanders just below the chief and assistant chief — to face termination. In previous cases, deputy chiefs have opted for retirement instead of fighting through the appeal process.

Lindsey, who has been on some form of medical or injury leave for months, is at retirement age, although it remains unclear if she’ll retire or fight the allegations, sources say. A career OPD officer, she was a finalist for the chief job in 2020, along with her husband, LeRonne Armstrong. He ultimately got the position, but was fired by Mayor Sheng Thao last year for his alleged mishandling of a separate internal affairs investigation.

Whatever happens, it will be an early test for incoming Chief Floyd Mitchell, who is expected to start sometime over the next month. Once sworn-in as chief, Mitchell would have a big say in whether to uphold any decisions out of appeal hearings.

The investigation into the officers has been kept heavily under wraps, with several high-level officials, including City Administrator Jestin Johnson, saying they had heard nothing about it even as rumors began surfacing.

“I stay out of the personnel stuff,” Johnson told this news organization on March 27 following an introductory event for Mitchell, the new police chief.

Representatives for Mayor Sheng Thao said late last month that the office had been briefed on the investigation’s details but would not confirm what exactly the office was told.

Jim Chanin, a prominent civil-rights attorney in Oakland, said he had not heard the news and was frustrated to learn that Lindsey might be up for termination. He said none of the officials on a federal monitoring team that oversees OPD was informed of the investigation, and nor was the civilian-led police commission.

“As far as I’m concerned, she put her whole life into the department,” he said in an interview. “This better be good,” he added of the reason for Lindsey’s discipline —  “otherwise, I’m outraged.”