10 Cops for Oakland paid for by the Feds

With only 615 sworn officers, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) needs all the help it can get.  A Federal grant will pay for 10 of those officers for the next 3 years.

The announcement came at a press conference today with Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. The awards are being allocated through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program.  COPS is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to local law enforcement agencies to hire police officers dedicated to addressing specific crime and disorder challenges.

The total number of sworn officers with OPD will increase on Friday when 36 officers graduate from the most recent Police Academy.

OPD Meets with Merchants and Residents to Offer Tips on Fighting Crime

A rash of robberies in the Rockridge area, including a robbery of a KGO producer which led to discussion of crime in Oakland at that radio station this past weekend, led to a get together this morning with area merchants, residents and Oakland Police Department (OPD) Area 2 Captain Anthony Toribio at the Rockridge Library.

Toribio offered a few comments about OPD strategies and staffing and responded to questions.  The Captain told the group that many of the robberies were occurring between the hours of 10 pm to 2am.  To try to add patrols at that time he indicated that Problem Solving Officers (PSOs) who usually had their work shift ending at 11pm were being re-scheduled to have their shifts end at 2am.  He also indicated that where swing shift and graveyard shift overlap (that 10pm to 2am time frame) extra patrols would be made available.   

Efforts are also being made at OPD to better manage response to emergency calls.  Toribio indicated that in a recent three month period patrol officers were being asked to respond to 42 calls during a 10 hour shift. This means officers are moving call to call almost the entire shift rather than patrolling. By making appointments, postponing non-emergencies and better allocation of officers, Toribio hoped to free up more officers to engage in regular patrols.  He did indicate however that officers, including Crime Response Teams, are often called to parts of the city facing higher rates of violent crime.

Toribio was asked about Neighborhood Watch and he encouraged people to join and be involved.  He did emphasize that people should observe and report and not attempt to engage a suspect.  When asked about the hiring of private patrols, Toribio expressed support for the idea and said he directed his officers to get to know private security personnel in their areas.  Toribio did say any private patrol should be identifiably and professionally dressed, he suggested they should patrol an area and engage people (rather than just standing against a wall) and they, like citizens should be eyes and ears and not crime fighters themselves.

People were encouraged to keep their property well lit, porch lights as well as lighting on the side of buildings.  The use of security cameras was also encouraged.  And in addition to monitoring your own property it is permissible to aim cameras in public space as people do NOT have a reasonable expectation of privacy in those public spaces.

 

Among the 45 people who turned out this morning were Chris Jackson of the Rockridge BID, Paul Junge of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Oakland City Council member Dan Kalb. 

 

Oakland City Council protects People and Property

Recent protests in Oakland have included broken windows, graffiti, fires and violent attacks on people.  Earlier this week the Oakland City Council voted 5-0 with one abstention to Prohibit the possession of Tools of Violence and Vandalism during a Demonstration.

This ordinance clarifies what steps the Oakland Police Department (OPD) can take to prevent personal harm and property damage.  Once enacted no one is permitted to carry or possess a club, fire accelerant, fireworks, painting device, paint projectile, shield, sling shot, hammer, or wrench while participating in any demonstration.

Supporters of the measure, including the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, expect the ordinance to help OPD protect everyone, including peaceful protestors, from anyone intent on causing harm to others.

Before it becomes effective the ordinance will have to be approved again at the next City Council meeting which is scheduled for September 17.

 

 

Federal Judge signs OPD oversight order

Senior Federal District Judge Thelton Henderson signs the order creating “Compliance Director” to oversee Oakland Police Department operations.  After nearly ten years of Federal Court oversight the possibility of OPD being run by a Federal receiver was avoided by an agreement between the City and the plaintiff attorneys who brought the civil rights case against OPD.  The hearing scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.

The appointment of a Compliance Director, likely a person agreed to by the plaintiffs the City and Senior Federal District Judge Thelton Henderson, will have broad powers to direct OPD activity, including the power to remove the Chief of Police.  That power and others could be appealed by the City to the Judge.  The appointment of the Compliance Director also included specific spending authority for the Compliance Director.  It is hoped that the appointment will help OPD achieve the remaining requirements of the negotiated settlement agreement that has brought about the Federal oversight of OPD. 

 The parties have until December 21 to agree on someone to serve as Compliance Director or the judge will appoint one.