Batts announced on Tuesday that he will step down as Oakland police chief next month, saying he hasn't been able to manage the department the way he wants to.
In a resignation letter, the 50-year-old cited frustration over having "limited control, but full responsibility" in his role.
He was hired in 2009 after running the Long Beach Police Department for seven years. Under his leadership, crime in Long Beach dropped to its lowest level in three decades.
Word of Batts' dissatisfaction surfaced in January, when he applied to be San Jose's top cop. At the time, he cited concerns with Oakland's commitment to providing support and resources to its police force.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
