Oakland's embattled city administrator put on leave amid investigation

(06-27) 14:07 PDT OAKLAND -- Oakland City Administrator Deborah Edgerly, under suspicion for possibly interfering in a police investigation of a violent street gang, has been placed on paid leave until she retires at the end of July, Mayor Ron Dellums announced this afternoon.The mayor named Dan Lindheim, the city's community and economic development director, as interim city administrator.Edgerly, 56, refused to sign an agreement to relinquish her authority over the police department and give it to the mayor, forcing the move to put her on leave, City Hall sources said. Earlier this week, Dellums and Edgerly had agreed she would stay at her post until her scheduled retirement July 31. The mayor at the time said Police Chief Wayne Tucker would report directly to him, but Edgerly refused to agree to hand over her authority over the police department. A growing number of city officials in recent days have called on Dellums to put Edgerly on administrative leave immediately given the pending investigation of her. The City Council will decide whether she will receive severance pay, Dellums' spokesman Paul Rose said. Edgerly will continue to earn her $260,000-a-year salary until she retires. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM