OAKMONT CITY — A veteran police chief with more than three decades of service was briefly detained and handcuffed by one of her own officers outside her home last August, an incident that has ignited public debate over racial bias, policing practices, and internal accountability.
Chief Diane Patterson, 63, had just returned home after a 12-hour shift when a patrol car pulled into her driveway as she unloaded groceries from her vehicle. Officer Kyle Brennan, a 26-year-old patrol officer with three years on the force, ordered Patterson to step away from her car and place her hands on the vehicle.
Despite Patterson identifying herself as the city’s police chief and Brennan’s superior officer, he proceeded to handcuff her, citing a report of “suspicious activity” at the residence.
“I am your superior officer. I am ordering you to stand down,” Patterson can be heard saying in footage recorded by a neighbor. Brennan responded that he did not know who she was and continued the detention.
The encounter lasted several minutes before dispatch alerted Brennan that the address he was responding to belonged to Chief Patterson. The handcuffs were removed approximately 40 seconds later. Patterson was not charged.
A review of the 911 call revealed that an anonymous caller reported “a Black woman going through a car” and suggested she might be stealing items from the residence. The caller disconnected before providing identifying information.
Video of the incident, recorded by a neighbor, went viral within hours, garnering millions of views and drawing national attention. The footage shows Patterson standing handcuffed in her driveway as neighbors look on in visible shock.
Officer Brennan was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, a standard departmental procedure. Through the police union’s attorney, Brennan issued a public apology, calling the incident a “misunderstanding” and praising Patterson’s career of service.
The police union has defended Brennan, stating he followed protocol in responding to a suspicious-person call. Community reaction has been sharply divided, with some residents calling for Brennan’s termination and others arguing he acted appropriately based on the information provided.
City officials, including the mayor and city manager, have requested a full review of the incident. The situation has placed the department under intense scrutiny, highlighting tensions between law enforcement leadership, rank-and-file officers, and the community.
Chief Patterson, the city’s first Black woman to hold the position, has not indicated what disciplinary action, if any, will follow the investigation. Sources within the department say the case has already exposed deep divisions.
In a brief statement, Patterson said the incident was “deeply personal” but emphasized that the focus must remain on trust, fairness, and accountability within the department.
“This was not just about me,” she said. “It was about how easily assumptions can override judgment — even within the institution meant to protect people.”
The internal investigation remains ongoing.
