Firing of Berkeley’s top police watchdog lands another blow to independent oversight, officials say

BERKELEY — Berkeley councilmembers have decided to fire the director of the Office of Police Accountability, a decision the director says “does not happen in a vacuum.”

The vote to remove Hansel Aguilar was made official during a closed session meeting Monday, with eight councilmembers in favor and one absent, Mayor Adena Ishii said in a statement.

“The Berkeley City Council is firmly committed to police accountability, and we recognize how deeply these issues matter to our community. The Office of the Director of Police Accountability plays a critical role, and we remain focused on fully supporting the office and the Police Accountability Board so that both entities can carry out their responsibilities effectively,” Ishii’s statement read. “The City is committed to continuity of operations and is putting in place measures to make sure this important work goes on seamlessly.”

Hired in 2022 following a nationwide search, Aguilar was responsible for overseeing investigations into complaints of police misconduct, as well as acting as secretary of the Police Accountability Board, a nine-member civilian body charged with advising the City Council on policies, practices and procedures.

The board’s work has been plagued by a strained relationship with other city departments and council leadership as attempts to formalize board regulations have stalled and disagreements over document access and investigation results have emerged.

Aguilar has specifically faced sharp scrutiny in recent months by councilmembers who have encouraged the director to focus on pressing issues like surveillance cameras and drone policies.

But in a statement addressing his removal, Aguilar said Berkeley’s independent police oversight system is experiencing a hobbling pressure that’s being felt nationwide.

Berkeley has had some form of police oversight for decades, starting with the Police Review Commission formed in 1973. The Police Accountability Board and Director of Police Accountability Office replaced the commission after nearly 85% of Berkeley voters agreed to amend the city’s charter and create the two entities.

“Across the country, communities are watching to see whether promises made in the wake of high-profile cases of police violence will be honored or quietly walked back once the spotlight fades,” Aguilar said. “This isn’t about the loss of a job. It’s about whether democracy keeps its promises – especially when oversight becomes inconvenient.”

Police Accountability Board Chair Josh Cayetano said the decision to remove Aguilar was surprising and disappointing. Cayetano said he could not comment on exactly why the council decided to let Aguilar go because the board was not consulted on the decision.

Cayetano said he looks forward to working with the council to support and restore trust and credibility in police oversight in the city.

“Former Director Aguilar was a committed and strong advocate of police transparency, accountability, and civilian oversight,” Cayetano said. “Berkeley as a city faces systemic issues preventing effective independent civilian oversight of law enforcement that will not go away simply because of Former Director Aguilar’s dismissal.”

Aguilar’s removal comes nearly two weeks after two Police Accountability Board members announced their resignation.

Kitty Calavita and Juliet Leftwich, the two longest serving members on the board, said they were stepping down because they felt decisions by councilmembers and multiple city departments were undermining the board’s oversight authority.

“For more than half a century, Berkeley was a model for other cities seeking meaningful police oversight. No more,” Calavita and Leftwich said in their joint resignation letter. “Because we believe our continued efforts to fulfill the mission of the PAB will be in vain, we regrettably must resign.”

Seeking to force the city to be more cooperative with the oversight body’s and office’s investigations, Aguilar filed a lawsuit against the city in December 2025 that argued the records were necessary for him to properly do his job. The lawsuit created an issue in which Berkeley was essentially suing itself, reported the Berkeley Scanner.

Aguilar said he’s reviewing the legal implications of his removal, but was advised by his legal counsel to not comment further on the matter.

“What I can say with absolute clarity is that my commitment to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law remains unchanged. Communities deserve institutions that follow their own charters, respect lawful oversight, and understand that public trust is earned, not presumed,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar will be formally removed from his position a month after receiving written notice of the decision to dismiss, Ishii said. Meanwhile, Ishii said the council is focused on filling the five Police Accountability Board vacancies and finding Aguilar’s replacement, finalizing the board’s regulations, giving both oversight entities the necessary tools to succeed and restoring belief in the oversight process.