For Immediate Release October 25, 2022
OPD News:
Today, Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong of the Oakland Police Department (OPD) announced he is extending the department’s current 30-day crime plan. “All of our resources will continue to be focused on group and gang violence, on addressing homicides and shootings in the City of Oakland, and we will continue our all-hands-on-deck approach,” says Armstrong.
On September 27, 2022, Chief Armstrong challenged his command staff to bring a different approach to fighting crime, with the goal of an immediate impact on the safety of residents, visitors, and businesses in Oakland. Since its inception four weeks ago, homicides and shootings decreased by 47% and 33%, respectively.
In 2022, homicides are down 10%; shootings are also down 25% over last year. Collectively, 30% of homicides and shootings are linked to group and gang conflicts.
Because of the dedicated work of officers in the CeaseFire Division, Violent Crime Operations Center (VCOC), and Patrol Division, OPD has recovered more than 80 firearms and made 120 arrests of very violent individuals within the current crime plan.
When looking at firearm recoveries for the year, the department has seized 1,235 firearms. Chief Armstrong said, "more firearms were recovered in the first 10 months of 2022 than recovered in all of last year.
This Friday, nearly two dozen officers will join OPD with the successful graduation of the 189th Basic Academy. Another 24 officers are scheduled to join the department after graduating in February.
Lastly, Chief Armstrong announced the department was recently awarded more than $1.8 million to hire 15 additional officers through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).