Sources say veteran officer LeRonne Armstrong will serve as Oakland's new police chief

OAKLAND, Calif. - A new police chief has been chosen for Oakland, according to sources.

Mayor Libby Schaaf selected Deputy Chief LeRonne Armstrong, a native of Oakland, as chief, two sources told KTVU.

Armstrong replaces the department's former chief, Anne Kirkpatrick who was ousted by the police commission last year. 

Armstrong was among four finalists up for the job, including his wife, Interim Deputy Chief Drennon Lindsey. 

Armstrong is a 21-year veteran with OPD and a former Alameda County probation officer. 

Civil rights attorney John Burris called Armstrong a "positive selection" who has a depth of knowledge about the department's issues over the past 20 years. Burris added Armstrong has the ability to hit the ground running. 

"Even though he's from the department, the challenges are there," said Burris. "You have the community issues that you have to relay to the community or the police commission. You have crime. The big job of the police chief is to reduce crime. Nothing else really matters as much as the safety of the community. That's something he has to get control of." 

Susan Manheimer has been the acting chief of police for almost a year after Kirkpatrick was fired. 

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's declined to comment saying, "We are not discussing any decisions."