Whatever you may think about Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, no one can say he doesn't give a good press conference.
Yesterday, KQED's Rachel Dornhelm attended the first of what Batts says will be renewed monthly press briefings and collected the following audio. Batts said he stopped meeting with the press last year because of the mayoral race.
The chief's best sound bite came responding to a question about his reportedly strained relationship with the mayor:
"You know, the goofiest thing, you guys keep reporting that we have issues or we're bickering. And I read that, because I mean...where the heck are you getting that from? Here's the reality....the mayor's the boss. and when the mayro says we're going this direction, we go that direction....My relationship is goo d with the mayor....But would you guys stop reporting this stuff? I don't know where you're picking it up from. Holy smokes!"