OAKLAND — A civilian oversight body with unprecedented authority over the city’s police will allow officers significantly more flexibility in deciding whether to chase suspects at high speeds through city streets.

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In a unanimous vote, the Oakland Police Commission determined Thursday that police can initiate a pursuit over 50 miles per hour at their own discretion, so long as they receive a supervisor’s permission for it soon afterward.

It is a significant victory for Chief Floyd Mitchell, who had sought for months to reverse a special order established by his predecessor that required prior approval for chases at those speeds.

Mitchell steadfastly argued that the policy limited his officers’ ability to catch criminal suspects — a concern echoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on

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