Oakland, CA — The Oakland Police Commission is pleased to announce that John Alden will serve as the Executive Director for the Community Police Review Agency effective Monday, July 29, 2019.
“Following a lengthy and extensive recruitment process where the Police Commission ultimately submitted two highly qualified candidates to fill the CPRA Executive Director position, I am elated that John will be taking the helm of the CPRA and directly support the Police Commission in the important work of civilian police accountability,” said Police Commission Chair Jackson. "John brings extensive and in depth experience in civilian oversight work that will serve us well.”
John Alden brings to Oakland a decade of deep experience in police accountability. Mr. Alden previously worked for the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability (DPA), formerly known as the Office of Citizen Complaints, and also for the Internal Affairs Division of the San Francisco Police Department. In those offices, he managed the investigation of complaints of police misconduct and use of excessive force, litigated disciplinary hearings, and advocated for changes in police policies and procedures. Mr. Alden also served as the Managing Attorney of the Independent Investigations Bureau ("IIB") in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, a unit specializing in the investigation and prosecution of Officer Involved Shootings, In Custody Deaths, and other forms of potentially criminal officer misconduct.
Before working in police accountability, Mr. Alden began his career as a prosecutor, working in Sonoma and Marin Counties, and then transitioned to private practice litigating employment law matters. Early in his career, he worked in the State Legislature as an Unruh Fellow.
Mr. Alden received both his law degree and bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Upon his appointment to the position of Executive Director of the Community Police Review Agency, Mr. Alden said: “The City of Oakland’s renewed investment in civilian oversight in the last few years has been inspirational to me. The public’s passage of Measure LL and city leaders’ continuing support for reform make clear that Oakland will be a cutting-edge model of accountability and transparency in the years to come. I am thrilled to be part of such a team, and honored to serve the people of Oakland.”
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