Was it the time last year when his ambitious strategic plan started to look like a dream versus a reality? Or was it this summer when OPD had to lay 80 cops off?

Maybe the final straw was hearing the people's "voice" when IRV winner Jean Quan got the mayor's spot instead of police buddy Don Perata? Or was it just the realization that running a department in a city not on the verge of going bankrupt seemed just too good to resist?

Whatever the reasons, the Bay Area News Group ran a story this weekend reporting that Oakland's top cop, Anthony Batts, is not only looking for another job - he's one of two finalists for the top slot at the police department in San Jose, or at least that's what  Dom Arotzarena, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association says Batts told him when he snitched (okay, talked) to the media.

"I think he feels defeated here in Oakland," Arotzarena reportedly said. "You try to do everything you can and it's never good enough. I think a lot of people don't understand what a tough job it is to work in this town and under the circumstances."

So what is Mayor Quan going to do? 

The disclosure that Batts is looking elsewhere - with two years to go on his contract - presents the brand-new mayor with a big challenge - and an opportunity. Quan's M.O. seems to be to bring in an army of volunteers to mentor re-entering prisoners and at risk high school kids and to clean up neglected parks and streets across the city - but that isn't going to work with community policing and public safety.

So if Batts takes off, Quan's going to have the chance to bring in her own person or elevate someone from within the department.

But is that a good thing? Or a bad one?

Truth is, it's too early to tell. If Batts is eager to leave Oakland, he will surely find something eventually, but how does this position him in the near future? And where does Quan fit into that mix?

If Batts gets offered the San Jose job and chooses to take it, that's one thing. But if he ends up hanging on in Oakland, will our city suffer? Or is that just the luck of the draw?

Will Batts stay or will he go? Your comments - and bets- welcomed.