Oakland’s former police chief Floyd Mitchell starts his new job running Fremont’s department next week, Fremont officials announced.
Fremont confirmed Mitchell’s selection as its new top cop in February but officials said at the time that his hiring wasn’t yet official and didn’t announce his start date, which they now say is Monday.
“Floyd Mitchell brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to Fremont and a well-earned reputation for steady, thoughtful leadership,” said City Manager Karena Shackelford.
Mitchell began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in Kansas City, Missouri, where he served for 25 years and ultimately reached the rank of major.
He was also the police chief in Temple, Texas, before being appointed as chief of the Lubbock, Texas, police department.
Mitchell left Oakland in December 2025 after less than two years on the job. He hasn’t given a reason for his departure.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as Fremont’s next police chief. Throughout my public safety career, I have prioritized an evidence-based, data-driven policing approach, complemented by thoughtful community engagement and the implementation of leading best practices. This philosophy aligns with the Fremont Police Department’s esteemed reputation as a model agency nationally,” Mitchell said in a news release Tuesday.
He succeeds Sean Washington, who retired in August 2025 and has been serving as Fremont’s interim police chief since.
The Fremont Police Department will hold a community swearing-in ceremony for Mitchell sometime in the spring, according to city officials.