Paul Figueroa is a former law enforcement official and Acting Chief of the Oakland Police Department. Two days after he was named to the position he was forced to take a leave of absence. The cause for his sudden departure was due to racist text messages and emails he sent to colleagues containing images of the Ku Klux Klan and references to the N-word. The exchanges happened sometime in 2014 and involved African-American officers. Figueroa is the third police chief to step down from the position in eight days.

Oakland, California Mayor Libby Schaaf commented of the situation saying "“I am here to run a police department, not a frat house” and that the conduct of police officers such as Paul Figueroa were “wholly inappropriate and not acceptable for anyone who wears the badge of the Oakland Police Department.” The department has been in turmoil since it was revealed that 28 police officers across Northern California had relations with underage prostitute Celeste Guap.

The Oakland Police Department will now be under civilian oversight by City Administrator Sabrina Landreth.