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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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Oakland Cop Says the Force Ruined His Reputation

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A homicide detective claims the Oakland Police Department destroyed his reputation by leaking confidential information to the press amid accusations of misconduct in the investigation of "Your Black Muslim Bakery," and its alleged connection to the 2007 killing of an Oakland Post newspaper reporter.

Sgt. Derwin Longmire says the department launched its biased probe of him after he was accused of beating a confession out of a murder suspect and compromising the department's investigation of the killing of Chauncey Bailey.

Bailey was shot to death in Oakland on Aug. 2, 2007. Longmire says he was on call at the time and was assigned to the case. He says he "was successful in obtaining the confession" of Devaundre Broussard, but that Broussard then "falsely accused Longmire of beating a confession out of him."

That led to an Internal Affairs investigation, which Longmire says was unfair.

"Because of a gag order issued by the OPD, Longmire was prevented from saying anything publicly to clear his name and rebut the false allegations," according to the federal complaint.

Longmire, describes himself in the complaint as "an African-American man of Christian faith," claims the department targeted him "because of his race and perceived association with the Black Muslim Bakery."

Longmire claims that when the department realized he had done nothing wrong in the Bailey investigation, it allowed him to return to work from administrative leave, in exchange for agreeing not to sue the city or the department. Longmire says he received a 20-day suspension in retaliation for his refusal to sign the release.

Longmire seeks punitive and damages for civil rights violations. He is represented by John Scott.

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