Crime in Oakland has seen a dramatic increase. We must take a range of actions that will provide a comprehensive approach that includes a myriad of prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies.
Total Crime has increased 28% from last year, according to the Oakland Police Department’s Weekly Crime report from early September 2023. The increase in crime we are seeing is a seriously worrying trend, and one that the city must address.
High quality security cameras placed on freeway on-ramps can improve OPD’s ability to obtain evidence and investigate and solve certain serious crimes. High quality security cameras located on commercial private properties along retail business district corridors in Oakland can improve OPD’s ability to obtain evidence and investigate and solve crimes that have plagued residents and our small businesses.
Oakland Police beat officers provide community presence, improve community relations and can deter criminal activity. Bringing reentry services to scale throughout Alameda County would help more people in need while reducing recidivism in our communities. Increasing MACRO’s capacity to handle 9-1-1 calls will reduce the number of calls that OPD is required to address.
This resolution will require that the City immediately (1) identify and evaluate options to increase staffing and retention of 911 dispatchers and reduce 911 hold time for residents, (2) authorize a lateral police academy (in addition to the six recruit academies already approved in our two-year budget), (3) seek increased support from federal, state, and county agencies including adding additional FBI investigators to help solve violent crimes and increasing multi-jurisdictional operations to confiscate illegal guns, (4) expand the city’s violence prevention and intervention efforts and urge the County to expand reentry services for those in need, (5) place security cameras along selected freeway on-ramps to help with investigations, and create a grant program for the City to fund the purchase of security cameras along retail business corridors, and (6) move to expand the number of walking beat officers in Oakland neighborhoods and make those OPD positions permanent.