Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Anthony Batts

Anthony W. Batts is an American law enforcement executive who advanced through the ranks of the Long Beach Police Department over nearly three decades before serving as police chief in Long Beach from 2002 to 2009, in Oakland from 2009 to 2011, and as commissioner in Baltimore from 2012 to 2015. In Long Beach, Batts oversaw a substantial reduction in violent crime, earning commendations for heroism and effective leadership in a department managing a moderate crime environment. His subsequent roles in Oakland and Baltimore proved less successful, with short tenures ending in departures amid perceptions of inadequate command presence, internal morale issues, and failure to curb escalating violence. In Baltimore, Batts pledged departmental reforms but was dismissed following the in-custody death of Freddie Gray, ensuing riots, and a sharp homicide increase—the city's worst crime surge since the 1970s—coupled with officer dissatisfaction. Since leaving public service, Batts has taught as an adjunct professor at Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University while engaging in criminal justice policy discussions through organizations like the Council on Criminal Justice.

Early life and education

Childhood and upbringing

Anthony Batts was born in 1960 in Washington, D.C., and relocated with his family to the Los Angeles area at age five. He grew up in the Adams Boulevard corridor of South Central Los Angeles, a high-crime urban environment marked by pervasive gangs such as the Crips and Bloods, widespread drug trade, violence, and prostitution. This setting exposed him from a young age to the harsh realities of street crime, including an incident at eight years old when he encountered a young woman left for dead in an alley while walking to school. His parents separated when he was six, after which he was raised primarily by his mother, a school board employee who stressed the importance of education and personal responsibility over external circumstances. When Batts questioned her about the death he witnessed and the frequent loss of young Black lives to violence, she responded by urging him to take action: "You can do different things about it in the future," instilling a mindset of self-determination rather than resignation to systemic adversity. This early trauma, combined with later experiences mentoring at-risk youth—one of whom died violently—reinforced his resolve to pursue a path of reform and contribution, steering him away from the criminal elements surrounding his youth toward structured activities like sports, church, and community programs.

Academic and early professional development

Batts earned a in law enforcement administration from in 1986. He later obtained a Master of Business Management from the , followed by a in from the same institution in 1998. These credentials emphasized administrative and managerial skills relevant to policing, reflecting a progression grounded in formal study alongside practical application rather than ideological training. Prior to full-time employment, Batts served as a reserve with the Hawthorne Police Department and as a student cadet, gaining initial exposure to operations. In 1982, he joined the Long Beach Department as a patrol , focusing on street-level duties including narcotics investigations, which provided hands-on experience in maintaining public order and addressing crime at its roots. During the following the verdict, Batts, then an officer with the Long Beach Police Department, participated in response efforts as unrest spread to the area, an experience that later shaped his emphasis on rapid deployment, accountability, and restoring order to prevent escalation. This early immersion in high-stakes underscored a merit-based approach, prioritizing operational effectiveness over external narratives.

Law enforcement career

Long Beach Police Department

Anthony Batts spent 27 years with the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), advancing through the ranks to become in 2002, a position he held until 2009. During this tenure, Batts emphasized , including doubling the number of personnel dedicated to incident response early in his to enhance frontline capabilities. Under Batts' direction, Long Beach achieved sustained crime reductions, with overall crime rates falling to the lowest levels recorded since 1975 by the end of his term. Homicides declined from 68 in 2002 to approximately 40 annually by 2009, reflecting a roughly 37-43% drop over the period, alongside five consecutive years of overall crime decreases reported in 2009. Officer-involved shootings also decreased by 70% during his chiefship, attributed to targeted and measures. These outcomes stemmed from data-informed resource allocation and proactive enforcement strategies, which Batts implemented to address high-crime areas without diluting core policing functions. Batts introduced initiatives balancing enforcement with community support, including the establishment of an Office of Community Accountability to foster transparency and partnerships. In mental health response, he expanded specialized units from two to four Mental Health Evaluation Teams, enabling more effective handling of crisis calls involving mental illness while maintaining arrest authority for violations. Efforts addressing integrated enforcement against related offenses, such as public intoxication or encampments disrupting public order, with collaborative outreach to , prioritizing measurable public safety gains over purely supportive interventions. These programs underscored a pragmatic approach, linking to verifiable reductions in disorder and victimization.

Chief of Oakland Police Department

Anthony Batts was appointed Chief of the on August 12, 2009, by Mayor , succeeding interim chief Wayne Tucker, amid a department plagued by federal oversight stemming from the 2000 Riders scandal involving officer misconduct and civil rights violations. Batts, a 30-year veteran from the Long Beach Police Department, was selected for his reputation in and reform efforts, with initial goals focused on enhancing accountability, reducing bureaucracy, and addressing Oakland's high rates, as the city was labeled the Bay Area's violent crime capital. He was sworn in on October 20, 2009, inheriting a force of approximately 800 officers under ongoing scrutiny from a federal court monitor for compliance with reforms. During his tenure, Batts faced significant challenges in managing public unrest, particularly protests following the January 1, 2009, of Oscar Grant by officer Johannes Mehserle. After Mehserle's July 8, 2010, conviction for involuntary manslaughter, demonstrations escalated, drawing up to 800 participants and resulting in 78 arrests for actions including and assaults on officers; Batts described the response as firm, stating the city "will not tolerate this kind of behavior" while noting most protesters were non-residents. Further protests erupted after Mehserle's November 2010 sentencing, with Batts reporting minimal arrests and praising coordinated efforts with community peacekeepers and additional agencies to maintain order. These events highlighted tensions between mandates and operational demands, as the department balanced federal compliance with street-level policing amid departmental resistance to changes. Batts' tenure ended with his resignation announced on October 11, 2011, after roughly two years, citing insufficient resources, an "overwhelming load of bureaucracy," and limited authority—estimating only 20% control despite full accountability for outcomes like crime reduction. Conflicts with the police union, which opposed his reform initiatives including discipline and efficiency measures, compounded internal pushback, while a scathing federal monitor's report just prior criticized ongoing non-compliance. Despite early intentions to sustain momentum on accountability, these factors led to his departure before achieving lasting departmental transformation.

Commissioner of Baltimore Police Department

Anthony W. Batts was appointed as Commissioner of the by Mayor on August 28, 2012, with his tenure beginning on September 27, 2012, following City Council confirmation on October 23, 2012. Upon taking office, Batts pledged comprehensive modernization efforts, including enhanced training protocols to address outdated practices and the introduction of body-worn cameras to improve accountability and evidence collection. In 2013, he released a five-year strategic plan outlining steps to reduce crime through data-driven policing, boost operational efficiency, and foster community partnerships, while tackling entrenched departmental inefficiencies. Early in his tenure, Batts implemented targeted policing strategies, such as deploying plainclothes units focused on high-violence areas, which contributed to reductions in certain categories; for instance, 2012 saw 416 fewer victims of non-homicide violent crimes compared to the prior year, though homicides rose to 217 amid a late-year surge. These initiatives yielded mixed results overall, with homicides climbing to approximately 235 in 2013—defying national declines—and continuing fluctuations through 2014, before a sharp post-2014 escalation that highlighted persistent institutional challenges. In 2014, Batts engaged federal technical assistance via the Department of Justice's Collaborative Reform Initiative, leading to recommendations for policy overhauls, increased foot patrols, and pilots, which advanced to a proposed rollout for 100 officers by early 2015. Batts inherited a plagued by low officer , chronic shortages—such as inadequate radios and vehicles—and a resistant that hindered adoption. He responded by prioritizing resource audits and training updates to rebuild internally, though these efforts faced from rank-and-file officers skeptical of external-driven changes, exacerbating issues amid rising caseloads and operational strains. Despite these interventions, systemic dysfunction persisted, with deficiencies continuing to impede daily functions and contributing to inefficiencies that undermined broader crime-fighting goals. Batts' agenda, while ambitious, struggled against 's entrenched urban patterns and departmental inertia, resulting in uneven progress by the end of his term in July 2015.

Post-chief roles and consulting

Following his dismissal as Baltimore Police Commissioner on July 8, 2015, Anthony Batts assumed the role of CEO of The A. William White Group, a consulting firm focused on training and , a position he had held since late 2011 but expanded post-tenure. Through this firm, Batts provided advisory services to agencies worldwide, emphasizing executive training without operational command. Batts joined the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) as an instructor in 2016, delivering courses on leadership, such as the Executive Leadership Institute and Command Leadership Institute, drawing from his 43 years of experience. His sessions, including those in 2025, have trained commanders on progressive policing strategies and real-world applications. In April 2023, Batts became a board member of the Council on Criminal Justice, contributing to research and advocacy on criminal justice policy, including violence reduction and policing reforms. He has maintained influence through speaking engagements, notably a 2016 TEDxBeaconStreet talk titled "Police: Superheros or Villains?" co-presented with Eric Kowalczyk, where he discussed community perceptions of law enforcement. These roles underscore his shift to non-executive advisory work, informing policy discussions into the 2020s.

Achievements in policing

Crime reduction initiatives

During his tenure as Chief of the Long Beach Police Department from 2002 to 2010, Anthony Batts implemented strategies that yielded measurable declines in , including a 37% reduction in homicides between 2002 and 2007. The department under his leadership achieved five consecutive years of overall crime decreases from 2003 to 2008, with dropping 4.3% in 2006 alone amid focused efforts on high-impact areas like robberies and aggravated assaults. These outcomes were attributed to enhanced patrol visibility, targeted enforcement, and community partnerships emphasizing rapid response to violent incidents rather than deferred interventions. In Oakland, serving as chief from 2009 to 2011, Batts prioritized visible leadership and direct to combat persistent , aligning with his approach of deploying officers aggressively against hotspots while fostering resident cooperation for intelligence gathering. His tenure contributed to broader crime declines in agencies under his prior command, though specific Oakland metrics reflected ongoing challenges in a high-violence . Early in his role as starting in August , Batts launched initiatives under a strategic plan focusing on efficient to violent crime districts, resulting in a decrease in non-fatal shootings from 709 in to 665 by year-end , alongside reported overall reductions. These efforts emphasized data-driven deployments and empowerment for proactive stops over restrictive protocols, earning commendations for tied to improvements. Batts received multiple awards for such tactics, including the Governor's Award and recognitions for community programs.

Innovative programs and awards

During his tenure as chief of the Long Beach Police Department from 2002 to 2009, Batts expanded the department's Evaluation Teams from two to four specialized units, increasing capacity to address calls involving mentally ill individuals following a fatal 2002 shooting incident. These teams paired training with enforcement authority, enabling where feasible while maintaining accountability through arrests or involuntary commitments when necessary, thereby reducing reliance on standard patrol responses for repeat crises. In , as commissioner from 2012 to 2015, Batts introduced enhanced officer training programs by contracting a led by a former Long Beach subordinate, focusing on procedural improvements and performance analytics to identify at-risk behaviors early. This data-informed approach aimed to integrate mechanisms with skill development, prioritizing interventions like targeted retraining over unchecked tactics, though federal reviews later noted implementation gaps in the department's broader early framework. Batts earned commendations for these enforcement-integrated initiatives, including an for advancements in policing models that linked community-oriented responses to measurable safety outcomes. He also received for heroism—such as a for personal valor—and , recognizing causal contributions to reduction through balanced, evidence-based strategies rather than solely procedural reforms.

Controversies and leadership challenges

Handling of protests in Oakland

During the protests and riots in Oakland following the by a officer, Chief Anthony Batts, who assumed the role in November , issued directives emphasizing and minimal confrontation with demonstrators to avoid escalating tensions amid heightened scrutiny of tactics. These instructions, intended to foster community trust post-Grant's death on , , were perceived by some officers as overly restrictive, contributing to a sense of operational weakness during volatile events such as the July 8-9, 2010, riots after Johannes Mehserle's involuntary conviction, where and damaged businesses and vehicles. The Oakland Police Officers' Association criticized Batts' leadership for inadequate preparation, including shortages of riot gear that left officers ill-equipped to respond decisively to property destruction and assaults on personnel. Union representatives argued that the restraint orders eroded officer morale and emboldened agitators, as seen in the , 2010, unrest after Mehserle's sentencing to two years, where protesters initially marched peacefully but turned violent, prompting Batts to declare an only after an officer's holstered weapon was grabbed—resulting in 152 arrests but over delayed . Batts defended the approach, stating in later reflections that it prevented broader chaos compared to contemporaneous events like Occupy Oakland, though union accounts highlighted persistent equipment deficiencies and hesitation in deployment. These challenges were compounded by the Oakland Police Department's ongoing federal oversight under a 2003 Negotiated Settlement Agreement stemming from the Riders scandal, which mandated s in use-of-force and accountability but constrained swift tactical decisions during s, as compliance monitors scrutinized every major operation. A October 2011 federal monitor's report cited Batts' administration for failing to meet benchmarks, including and , which intersected with by limiting aggressive amid fears of violating court orders. This environment contributed to Batts' resignation announcement on , 2011, effective mid-November, where he expressed frustration over bureaucratic hurdles impeding effective leadership, though he maintained his strategy had mitigated worse outcomes.

Freddie Gray incident and Baltimore unrest

On April 12, 2015, police officers arrested Freddie Gray Jr., a 25-year-old resident of the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, at approximately 8:40 a.m. for allegedly possessing a switchblade knife, after he briefly fled upon seeing officers and then surrendered. Gray was placed handcuffed and shackled into the back of a police transport van without a seatbelt, in violation of department policy, and the van proceeded to multiple stops while Gray reportedly screamed for medical assistance and an . Medical examiners later determined that Gray sustained a severe —comparable to those from high-impact accidents like shallow-water dives—during the van ride between its second and final stops, likely from his unrestrained body impacting the vehicle's interior walls or protruding bolt, though federal investigators found insufficient evidence to conclusively prove intentional "rough riding" by officers. Gray became unresponsive by the van's arrival at the Western District station around 9:24 a.m., was removed, and paramedics were called; he underwent surgery on April 14 but fell into a and died on April 19 from the neck and spine injuries. As police commissioner, Anthony Batts initially emphasized departmental accountability, stating publicly on April 23 that if any officer harmed Gray, "we will have to prosecute him," while noting unknowns in the investigation to avoid compromising it. Batts also asserted that the arresting officers were "not out of control" during the initial apprehension but acknowledged Gray's repeated requests for medical aid during transport, which were not adequately addressed until later. These statements reflected Batts' push for internal probes alongside state charges later filed by prosecutor , though Batts expressed surprise at the speed and scope of those indictments, respecting her independence while prioritizing a thorough facts-based review. Protests escalated after Gray's death, turning into riots on April 27, , particularly at Mondawmin Mall where crowds engaged in , , and clashes, resulting in over 100 vehicle fires, damaged businesses, and 235 arrests. Batts' management drew criticism for directives that limited officer use of aggressive tactics and riot gear; a report cited orders to "stand down" and permit "" to de-escalate, stemming from inadequate and insufficient protective distribution, such as helmets and shields, which left officers vulnerable and contributed to perceptions of restraint over enforcement. Batts later requested an external review by the to assess response strategies, aiming to prevent future unrest amid federal scrutiny. In the aftermath, Baltimore experienced a sharp homicide surge, with 344 murders in 2015—the highest annual total since 1993 and exceeding prior peaks from the 1970s crack era—alongside rises in shootings and , concentrated post-Gray's on 27. This spike correlated with documented officer pullback, including reduced and arrests due to heightened scrutiny, protests, and fear of prosecution—dynamics akin to the "" observed nationally after high-profile incidents, where de-policing empirically preceded crime increases despite some studies attributing Baltimore's rise more directly to local events than broader Ferguson protests. Batts' hesitancy, including response constraints, was cited by critics as exacerbating morale issues and causal factors in this retreat from aggressive enforcement, leading to unchecked criminal activity in high-risk areas.

Firing from Baltimore and subsequent criticisms

On July 8, 2015, Mayor dismissed Anthony Batts as police commissioner, citing the department's preoccupation with internal politics over public safety amid a surge in and declining officer morale. The decision followed a period of heightened scrutiny after the Freddie Gray unrest, during which homicides reached 100 by late May—exceeding the full-year total from early 2014—and non-fatal shootings nearly doubled year-over-year, with an 82.5% increase reported in May alone. Critics, including city officials, attributed the spike—the worst since the —to leadership failures in maintaining operational focus, with officers increasingly absent from high-crime areas due to low morale and reduced . In the years following his dismissal, Batts faced ongoing scrutiny for his assessment of departmental culture and policy outcomes. During 2020 testimony before Maryland's Commission to Restore Trust in Policing, he described officers upon his 2013 arrival as exhibiting a pervasive "culture of people trying to be badasses" rather than prioritizing community-oriented policing, a bravado he linked to entrenched patterns of aggressive tactics over collaborative strategies. This admission drew criticism for underscoring his inability to reform such ingrained behaviors during his tenure, as metrics—including a full-year total of 344 in 2015, up from 211 in 2014—remained unreversed despite his initiatives. Batts defended his record in public statements, such as a June 2015 highlighting updated officer training and technology investments as successes that had previously driven reductions. However, empirical data contradicted these claims, revealing sustained escalation in under his leadership, with per capita lethality rates among shooting victims rising to one in three deaths by mid-decade, far exceeding national averages and prior trends. Such discrepancies fueled retrospective analyses questioning the efficacy of his reforms, particularly as the department's clearance rates for homicides hovered below 50% amid the spike, indicating persistent operational shortcomings.

Personal life and views

Family and personal background

Anthony Batts was born in 1960 and raised in the Adams Boulevard corridor of South Central Los Angeles after his family relocated there when he was five years old. His youth was marked by pervasive exposure to drugs, gangs, , and in a high-risk environment that he later described as filled with "dysfunctionalities" common to such neighborhoods. Despite these surrounding pressures, Batts opted for a path of personal accountability, joining the Long Beach Police Department as an officer in 1983 rather than succumbing to the criminal influences prevalent in his —a choice he has characterized as avoiding becoming just another "faceless statistic." Batts is married and the father of five children; he is also a grandfather to four granddaughters. Little public detail exists regarding his family structure or relationships, consistent with his maintenance of a relatively private personal life amid a high-profile career.

Perspectives on policing and reform

Batts emphasized that community trust in policing emerges from tangible outcomes, such as reduced and heightened citizen participation in incidents, rather than performative measures disconnected from enforcement efficacy. In May 2015, he highlighted early signs of progress in trust-building through strategic s that encouraged involvement, including volunteer oversight roles and expanded . This results-oriented approach, he argued, counters narratives prioritizing symbolic gestures over empirical reductions in harm, as unchecked erodes public safety more than isolated misconduct incidents. In post-tenure reflections, particularly during 2020 testimony before Maryland's Commission to Restore Trust in Policing, Batts critiqued entrenched departmental cultures fostering bravado—"officers trying to be badasses"—at the expense of community-oriented practices, attributing such attitudes to systemic dysfunction including excessive and abuse of injury leave. He advocated deep structural changes to instill accountability via rigorous training that upholds core protective functions without fostering demoralization, warning that superficial shifts risk perpetuating ineffective habits in high-crime contexts where causal factors like organizational rot demand targeted excision of biased or outdated behaviors. Batts rejected rigid "warrior versus guardian" framings as overly simplistic, instead promoting a balanced model suited to urban realities: guardians who enforce laws decisively to deter threats, as evidenced by his endorsement of emphasizing operational resilience alongside . He viewed and political resistances to such measures—manifest in opposition to weeding out non-performers—as impediments to , prioritizing institutional inertia over public safety imperatives in environments where lax standards correlate with rising disorder.

References

  1. [1]
    Anthony Batts - Council on Criminal Justice
    From 2011-2015, he served as Commissioner for the Baltimore Police Department. Batts has received various awards and commendations for heroism, crime ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  2. [2]
    Meet Anthony Batts | The Marshall Project
    Apr 28, 2015 · He came to Baltimore from a brief and unhappy stint as the police chief in Oakland following a long and successful career with the Long Beach Police Department.
  3. [3]
    Former Long Beach chief Anthony Batts now contends with ...
    Sep 1, 2017 · Batts served as Long Beach's police chief until 2009, when he accepted the same position in Oakland. In some seven years leading Long Beach's ...Missing: results | Show results with:results<|control11|><|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Baltimore former top cop Anthony Batts took on challenges - CNN
    May 1, 2015 · Batts had nearly 30 successful years with the police department in Long Beach, California, a city with a more moderate crime rate, thanks in ...Missing: achievements controversies<|separator|>
  5. [5]
    The Rise and Fall of Anthony Batts | The Marshall Project
    Jul 10, 2015 · Anthony W. Batts, who was fired Wednesday as Baltimore's police commissioner, lacked street cred with the cops under his command and residents of the grittier ...Missing: results | Show results with:results
  6. [6]
    Anthony Batts, the exit interview: "In Oakland, the police department ...
    Nov 7, 2011 · Anthony Batts, who recently stepped down as the head of Oakland's Police Department, has been a member of law enforcement for nearly thirty ...
  7. [7]
    Police Chief Who Pledged Reforms Fired Amid Crime Spike
    Oct 15, 2025 · On Wednesday, Batts was fired as police commissioner amid the worst crime spike in the city since the 1970s and plummeting morale among officers ...
  8. [8]
    Mayor fires Batts as police commissioner - WBAL-TV
    Jul 9, 2015 · Baltimore mayor fires Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Davis named interim commissioner.Missing: results | Show results with:results
  9. [9]
    New Baltimore Police Commissioner Batts seeks fresh start
    Sep 22, 2012 · Batts was born in Washington, D.C., where he lived until his family moved to the Los Angeles area when he was 5. Growing up in the Adams ...Missing: childhood upbringing<|separator|>
  10. [10]
    'There is a Visceral Hatred for the People Who Wear This Uniform ...
    Apr 23, 2015 · “When I was a street police officer in the 1980s, rock cocaine hit Southern California, and it hit it hard. We had African-American men, young ...Missing: personal | Show results with:personal
  11. [11]
    Bio box: Anthony Batts, fired Baltimore police commissioner | KSL.com
    Bachelor's degree in law enforcement administration, California State University, Long Beach, California, 1986; master's in ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
  12. [12]
    New Police Commissioner Comes with Experience, Credentials and ...
    Aug 29, 2012 · Batts has received numerous awards, citations, and honors from community and business groups, educational and charitable organizations, ...
  13. [13]
    Mayor Rawlings-Blake Names Former Long Beach, Oakland Police ...
    Aug 28, 2012 · Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake named Dr. Anthony W. Batts, DPA commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department effective September 27, 2012.Missing: results | Show results with:results
  14. [14]
    The Intuition of Anthony Batts: Commissioner's experiences in Los ...
    Later, on WYPR's “Midday with Dan Rodricks,” Batts explained that his intuition came from a background in “riot situations,” from the Rodney King riots in ...
  15. [15]
    Oakland taps Long Beach chief to head police department | The ...
    During his time atop the department, Long Beach's crime rate dropped to its lowest level since 1975 and officer-involved shootings fell by 70 percent, the ...
  16. [16]
    Commentary: Anthony Batts is a welcome pick as Oakland police chief
    Aug 15, 2009 · Since Batts became chief in 2002, the crime rate in Long Beach has been at its lowest level since 1975. He is well-regarded in community ...
  17. [17]
    Long Beach murder rate keeps falling - Press Telegram
    Sep 1, 2017 · The number has dropped nearly 43 percent since 2002, when there were 68 murders in Long Beach, according to police. Police attribute the drop to ...Missing: 2009 | Show results with:2009
  18. [18]
    LBPD's Batts to take over Oakland PD - Press Telegram
    Sep 1, 2017 · The chief, known to most in the community as Tony, proudly announced the fifth straight year of crime reductions for Long Beach last February.
  19. [19]
    Oakland chief resigns as police takeover threatened - SFGATE
    Oct 11, 2011 · Batts, a charismatic leader who sought to bring Oakland into step with a trend toward data-driven policing, was hired in October 2009 by then- ...
  20. [20]
    Electronic Security Expo announces Anthony W. Batts as speaker for ...
    He is credited with reforming the City of Oakland's police agency to focus on data-driven policing, and in Long Beach, he established an Office of Community ...Missing: Compstat | Show results with:Compstat
  21. [21]
    [PDF] POLICE - City of Long Beach
    ... homelessness, and mental illness, which will continue to lead to: o Personnel and equipment shortages; o Increased personnel overtime, stress, and turnover ...
  22. [22]
    Oakland Police Chief Named – NBC Bay Area
    Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums announced Wednesday that he has chosen Anthony Batts as Oakland's new chief of police. Batts is the current police chief in Long ...
  23. [23]
    Oakland police timeline: Two decades of scandals and controversies
    Feb 15, 2023 · The department has been under federal oversight for two decades because of the so-called Riders scandal, in which six men in West Oakland argued ...
  24. [24]
    Oakland gets new police chief - SFGATE
    Aug 13, 2009 · Oakland's new police chief, Anthony Batts, is a 30-year veteran of the Long Beach Police Department who is well regarded by rank-and-file ...Missing: appointed | Show results with:appointed
  25. [25]
    New Oakland Police Chief Inherits a Force, and a City, in Turmoil
    Oct 15, 2009 · Anthony W. Batts left Long Beach to take over a police force in a city that is considered the violent crime capital of the Bay Area.
  26. [26]
    Batts sworn in as Oakland police chief
    Oct 20, 2009 · Batts sworn in as Oakland police chief. Richard Parks on October 20, 2009. Oakland's new top cop was sworn in Tuesday night in front of family ...
  27. [27]
    New police commissioner expected to be former Oakland chief
    including seven as chief — before taking over the Oakland ...
  28. [28]
    78 protesters arrested after verdict in killing of unarmed black man
    Jul 9, 2010 · At the high point of the protests, about 8 p.m., there were an estimated 800 people in the streets, Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts said.
  29. [29]
    Oakland riots after verdict in police shooting of Oscar Grant | US news
    Jul 9, 2010 · The subsequent acquittals of four LAPD officers sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Police deployed in Oakland in riot gear yesterdayand ...
  30. [30]
    Protests erupt in Oakland, Calif., after ex-transit cop sentenced
    Nov 5, 2010 · Protests erupt in Oakland, Calif., after ex-transit cop sentenced ... Earlier, Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts said only one man had ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  31. [31]
    So Far, So Good: Oakland Police Chief - NBC Bay Area
    Jul 8, 2010 · Batts said the mayor's office facilitated community peacekeepers, who are wearing orange jackets at the protests. Officers and deputies from the ...
  32. [32]
    Oakland officials praise response to violence after BART shooting ...
    Jul 10, 2010 · In all, 78 men and women were arrested, Chief Anthony Batts said ... Grant's family and said that he “never intended to shoot Oscar Grant.
  33. [33]
    Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts Resigns - NBC Bay Area
    Oct 11, 2011 · Batts said he could no longer be in charge of a police department where he had 20-percent control but full accountability. His resignation ...Missing: 2010 | Show results with:2010
  34. [34]
    Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts announces resignation
    Oct 11, 2011 · […] said he was stepping down because of a lack of resources, and wrote a very telling letter posted here (thanks to Oakland North) in its ...
  35. [35]
    Oakland Tribune editorial/slideshow: Batts' resignation is a missed ...
    Aug 15, 2016 · Batts cited a lack of resources to effectively police the city, conflicts with the police union that resisted his efforts at reforming the ...<|separator|>
  36. [36]
    Batts quit as court report blasted Oakland cops - SFGATE
    Oct 12, 2011 · Outgoing Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts speaks to reporters after announcing his resignation on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, in Oakland, Calif.
  37. [37]
    Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts resigns - The Mercury News
    Aug 13, 2016 · Batts, 50, said an “overwhelming load of bureaucracy” and a lack of officers and resources to fight Oakland's severe crime problem contributed ...
  38. [38]
    Analysis: Chief Batts' Tenure at OPD, and the Department Going ...
    Many of the problems that Batts faced will continue to snag any incoming chief because of how the city of Oakland is organized. The chief has to report to a lot ...
  39. [39]
    Batts confirmed as Baltimore police commissioner - WBAL-TV
    Oct 23, 2012 · Baltimore City police commissioner Anthony Batts can now call his position official. The city council confirmed Batts as the new department ...Missing: appointed date
  40. [40]
    Anthony Batts | The Marshall Project
    Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts came to Baltimore in 2012 pledging reform, and during his nearly three years with the department, there wasMissing: childhood | Show results with:childhood
  41. [41]
    Batts sought reform for Baltimore, but results were mixed - Police1
    Jul 9, 2015 · 11, 2013 file photo shows Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts at Girard College, in Philadelphia. ... Batts, who is black and grew up ...
  42. [42]
    Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Commissioner Batts Release Strategic ...
    Nov 21, 2013 · The strategic plan details steps the police department will undertake over the next five years to reduce crime, improve services, increase efficiency, redouble ...Missing: body cameras<|separator|>
  43. [43]
    Mayor Rawlings-Blake, Commissioner Batts Report 2012 Crime ...
    including 416 fewer victims of violent crime. ... violence pushed the city's homicide total to 217 as of December 31st.Missing: 2012-2015 | Show results with:2012-2015
  44. [44]
    The Tragedy of Baltimore - ProPublica
    Mar 12, 2019 · He developed plainclothes units with a more surgical approach to policing, which targeted the most violent corners and worked with homicide ...
  45. [45]
    Baltimore's jump in homicides in 2013 defies national trends
    Jan 2, 2014 · Chicago, the national media's perennial poster child of gun violence, had a 16% drop in murders last year, t0 415. If Baltimore's murder rate ...Missing: 2012-2015 | Show results with:2012-2015
  46. [46]
    [PDF] The Collaborative Reform Initiative Process - Agency Portal
    Sep 5, 2015 · * Note: Under the leadership of Commissioner Anthony Batts, the Baltimore. Police Department joined CRI-TA in 2014. Hilliard Heintze was ...
  47. [47]
    Batts Details Police Body Camera Plan To Lawmakers - WBAL Radio
    Feb 20, 2015 · Earlier this week a mayoral task force recommended the pilot program for Baltimore, which would put body cameras on 100 police officers. The ...
  48. [48]
    Task Force Recommends City Officers To Wear Body Cameras
    Feb 18, 2015 · "It will not be tolerated in this organization," said Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. It forces the city's hand on body cameras, which are ...
  49. [49]
    [PDF] INVESTIGATION OF THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE ...
    Aug 10, 2016 · These equipment issues not only create inefficiencies for officers and drain the Department's resources, they also negatively impact officer ...
  50. [50]
    [PDF] Baltimore Police Department - Findings Report - August 10, 2016
    Aug 10, 2016 · These equipment issues not only create inefficiencies for officers and drain the Department's resources, they also negatively impact officer ...
  51. [51]
    Baltimore's new police chief: 'City's best days are ahead'
    Since late 2011, Batts has worked as CEO of the A. William White Group, a police consulting firm, and has been a lecturer and researcher for the Harvard ...
  52. [52]
    Former City Police Commissioner Gives TED Talk on Policing
    Nov 21, 2016 · Since he was ousted from his job as Baltimore Police Commissioner, Batts has sparked controversy with his comments. In September of 2015 Batts ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  53. [53]
    Instructors - FBI-LEEDA
    He has a Master's degree in Criminal Justice and Administration from California State University and is a published author and a frequent contributor to ...<|separator|>
  54. [54]
    [PDF] FBI LEEDA 33rd Annual Executive Training Conference Session ...
    Anthony Batts, (Ret), Long Beach Chief Chief/City ... Tony joined FBI-LEEDA as an instructor in 2016. ... Sarah Connolly, FBI-LEEDA Instructor. Matt ...
  55. [55]
    FBI-LEEDA's Post - LinkedIn
    Aug 12, 2025 · A big thank you to instructor Anthony Batts for leading such a successful and impactful class. Well done to all the graduates for your hard ...
  56. [56]
    FBI-LEEDA on X: "Congratulations to the Command Leadership ...
    FBI-LEEDA Instructor Anthony Batts led this course.
  57. [57]
    Anthony W. Batts D.P.A - Federal Bureau of Investigation - LinkedIn
    ... Education: Harvard Kennedy School · Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale ... Batts D.P.A's profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.Missing: background | Show results with:background
  58. [58]
    Police: Superheros or Villains? | Tony Batts & Eric Kowalczyk
    Jan 13, 2017 · Tony and Eric evaluate a new metric to improve relationships between police and the communities they serve. Anthony W. Batts is the former ...Missing: controversies career
  59. [59]
    CCJ Member Directory - Council on Criminal Justice
    Executive Director, Live Free Illinois · Anthony Batts - CEO & Owner, The A. William White Group. Anthony Batts · CEO and Owner, The A. William White Group.
  60. [60]
    City leaders bemoan resignation of Police Chief Batts - Signal Tribune
    According to the LBPD website, “Chief Batts holds a doctorate in public administration, a master's degree in business management, and a bachelor's of science in ...<|separator|>
  61. [61]
    Crime rate in L.B. falls for the 4th year in row – Press Telegram
    Despite the rise in rapes, Long Beach saw an overall drop of 4.3 percent in violent, or Part I, crimes. Mayor Bob Foster credited the Long Beach Police ...
  62. [62]
    Overall crime rate down again in Long Beach – Press Telegram
    Last year saw a 6 percent drop in overall crime, a 10 percent decrease in property crimes and an 8 percent drop in the violent crime subcategory; although 2008 ...
  63. [63]
    Reflecting on Year One of Baltimore Police Strategic Plan
    Dec 8, 2014 · “The reforms are about reducing violent crime, being as efficient as we can be, and most importantly, better connecting with the community we ...
  64. [64]
    Former Long Beach chief Anthony Batts now contends with Baltimore unrest
    ### Summary of Anthony Batts' Innovative Programs in Long Beach
  65. [65]
    Commissioner hires former colleague to train BPD - WBAL-TV
    Oct 28, 2014 · Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts has hired a consulting firm owned by a lieutenant who served under him in Long Beach, California, to ...
  66. [66]
    New Approach to Early Intervention: Baltimore Police Department ...
    These strategies could range from recommendations that the officer receive anger management training, referrals to an alcohol treatment program, referrals to ...Missing: innovative | Show results with:innovative
  67. [67]
    Oakland protests went wrong - 152 arrested - SFGATE
    Nov 7, 2010 · He was arrested immediately, and Chief Batts decided to put an end to the night. He declared the gathering an unlawful assembly based on the ...
  68. [68]
    Report Slamming OPD Helped Batts Out the Door - NBC Bay Area
    Oct 13, 2011 · Batts resigned from the top-cop job in Oakland after receiving a scathing report from federal investigators saying that the department was ...Missing: oversight | Show results with:oversight
  69. [69]
    Police release timeline of events leading up to Freddie Gray's death
    Apr 20, 2015 · Freddie Gray was arrested Baltimore police on the morning of April 12 without incident, according to police. Less than an hour after he was ...
  70. [70]
    Federal Officials Decline Prosecution in the Death of Freddie Gray
    Sep 12, 2017 · Those experts largely concluded that sometime in between Stops 2 and 6, Gray's head forcefully impacted the interior surfaces of the wagon, such ...
  71. [71]
    Freddie Gray's death in police custody - what we know - BBC News
    May 23, 2016 · Police timeline of the arrest · Sunday, 12 April, 0839: Officers approach Gray and he flees on foot · 0840: Gray arrested on corner of Presbury ...
  72. [72]
    Police chief: 'If someone harmed Freddie Gray, we will prosecute'
    Apr 23, 2015 · "If someone harmed Freddie Gray, we will have to prosecute him," Batts said. "We don't want to give away all the information we have. We want to ...Missing: response | Show results with:response
  73. [73]
    Baltimore PD chief: Cops in Gray arrest "not out of control" - CBS News
    Apr 22, 2015 · Batts said Gray asked for an inhaler and then several times asked for medical care. He was eventually rushed to a hospital. Gray died Sunday - a ...Missing: response | Show results with:response<|separator|>
  74. [74]
    Baltimore commissioner: I was surprised by charges - Politico
    May 5, 2015 · Batts added in the interview that he understood Mosby's desire to stay “independent” and not give off the appearance that she was being swayed ...Missing: response | Show results with:response
  75. [75]
    Report says Baltimore police were ordered to allow looting and 'chaos'
    Jul 8, 2015 · The report argues that Baltimore police officers have not been given adequate riot control training, and that the officers were not issued with ...
  76. [76]
    [PDF] Lessons Learned from the 2015 Civil Unrest in Baltimore
    Sep 9, 2015 · BPD has ordered and is distributing protective riot gear for all officers. ... Prior to the rioting in 2015, the Baltimore Police ...
  77. [77]
    Batts requests outside review of police handling of “Baltimore uprising”
    Jul 7, 2015 · Some eyewitnesses said that by converging on Mondawmin Mall in riot gear on April 27, police may have triggered the rioting that broke out after ...
  78. [78]
  79. [79]
    Violent crime rates spike in Baltimore since 2015 death of Freddie ...
    Mar 18, 2019 · Violent crime rates spike in Baltimore since 2015 death of Freddie Gray ... Baltimore homicide rate spikes since 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
  80. [80]
    The Freddie Gray Effect in Baltimore - Cop in the Hood
    Even police-involved shootings are down. Everything is down! Shame about the murders and robberies, though. Initially this crime jump was denied. Now we're ...
  81. [81]
    Baltimore Mayor Fires Police Commissioner As Murders Rise
    Jul 8, 2015 · Rawlings-Blake said the police department under Commissioner Anthony Batts had become too preoccupied with internal politics and not enough with ...Missing: low | Show results with:low
  82. [82]
    Why Baltimore mayor fired police commissioner - CSMonitor.com
    Jul 9, 2015 · Baltimore's mayor fired the troubled city's police commissioner Wednesday, saying that a recent spike in homicides in the weeks after an ...
  83. [83]
    Baltimore shootings are up 82.5%, or nearly double from last year
    Jun 1, 2015 · Bloody May, with the highest homicide toll recorded in the city in four decades, is just one indicator of the wave of gun violence that has ...
  84. [84]
    Violence surges on the Westside and elsewhere – a closer look at ...
    May 22, 2015 · Early yesterday, police reported the 100th homicide of the year – an unidentified male shot on Ramblewood Road in far Northeast Baltimore who ...
  85. [85]
    Baltimore police chief who vowed reform fired as crimes rise
    Jul 9, 2015 · On Wednesday, Batts was fired as police commissioner amid the worst crime spike in the city since the 1970s and plummeting morale among officers ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  86. [86]
    Baltimore Police suffered from culture of officers 'trying to be ...
    Oct 13, 2020 · “I think it was a culture of people trying to be badasses instead of a police department focused on community policing,” he said, adding that ...
  87. [87]
    Baltimore police officers were 'trying to be badasses' says former ...
    Oct 13, 2020 · Batts became commissioner in July 2012. He was fired in July of 2015 after the death of Freddie Gray and the riots that followed. ALSO ...
  88. [88]
    The Numbers Behind Baltimore's Record Year in Homicides
    Jan 15, 2016 · The Numbers Behind Baltimore's Record Year in Homicides · ​55. The per-capita murder rate, a city record, for every 100,000 residents · ​344. The ...Missing: 2012-2015 | Show results with:2012-2015
  89. [89]
    Batts offers strong comments for critics in op-ed - WBAL-TV
    Jun 19, 2015 · Batts talked about a successful reduction in violent crime, new officer training and updated technology, and he cited historically low homicide ...
  90. [90]
    Shoot to Kill: Why Baltimore is one of the most lethal cities in the U.S.
    Sep 30, 2016 · In Baltimore, one of every three people struck by gunfire dies, up from one death in every four shootings the previous decade. It ranks as one of the most ...
  91. [91]
    Baltimore's record police spending isn't reducing crime
    Jun 13, 2023 · Baltimore has seen over 300 homicides both in years when police cleared over 70% of cases and in years when the clearance rate sank below 40%.Missing: op- ed training
  92. [92]
    New Baltimore Police Commissioner Batts seeks fresh start ...
    ... family moved to the Los Angeles area when he was 5. Growing up in the Adams Boulevard corridor of South Central Los Angeles, Batts said his youth was marked ...
  93. [93]
    In tense press conference, resigning Batts calls bureaucracy "an ...
    Oct 11, 2011 · ... Anthony Batts criticized a bureaucracy that he said failed to ... Batts grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where, he has often said ...
  94. [94]
    Batts, new Baltimore police chief pick, says he's committed
    Aug 28, 2012 · Baltimore's next police commissioner believes the drug trade is at the core of crime problems from car break-ins to gang killings.Missing: background | Show results with:background
  95. [95]
    Bio box: Anthony Batts, fired Baltimore police commissioner - WBFF
    Jul 8, 2015 · EDUCATION -- Bachelor's degree in law enforcement administration, California State University, Long Beach, California, 1986; master's in ...
  96. [96]
    Batts: department 'keenly aware' of 'significant' challenges faced by ...
    May 27, 2015 · Our path to rebuild trust has started to see results. A 300% increase in citizens reporting crime, community members volunteering to sit on ...
  97. [97]
    Batts: More Baltimore cops likely to be arrested, forced out as result ...
    Jun 22, 2015 · “Our reform efforts will very likely see more police officers arrested,” Batts wrote. “We will have more officers who are forced out because ...
  98. [98]
    Police reform takes shape after riots - WBAL-TV
    In the month after last April's unrest, city homicides increased by nearly 40 percent compared with the same time in 2014, and nonfatal shootings were also 60 ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
  99. [99]
    Commissioner Batts Faced Pushback in Effort to Reform Police ...
    Change was indeed happening in the department, at least at the top. On July 8, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fired Batts and replaced him with new ...