Clean and Safe City Q&A - Crime and Safety

The Oakland Police Department’s Ceasefire/CGIC team utilizes the Ceasefire Strategy to reduce violent crime by specifically targeting gangs and/or groups based on a partnership based, intelligence led, and data-driven strategy. The overall Ceasefire Strategy aims to reduce gang/group related shootings and homicides, reduce recidivism rates, and improve community relations. Data related to shootings and violent crime is constantly analyzed and evaluated by the team, to include our community partners, to ensure that we are targeting individuals actively involved in a violent gang/group conflict so that the focus remains on those that are not only believed to be engaging in shootings and gun crimes, but also those at the highest risk of engaging in violent crime. 

One of the goals of our Ceasefire/CGIC team is to conduct both short-term and long-term investigations. Short-term would apply when immediate intervention in a gang/group conflict is necessary to stop the high frequency of violence. Ceasefire will conduct proactive enforcement to apprehend those individuals involved when probable cause exists. Longer term investigations may apply when investigating a shooting or shootings, where the investigative strategy requires evidence to be developed and collected over time in hopes of securing a conviction that would remove dangerous individuals from the community and hold them accountable for their violent behavior. The community-arm of our Ceasefire/CGIC team, led by Ceasefire Director Reverand Damita, that includes community partners, service providers, faith leaders, and victims of violence, aims at delivering a message via Direct Communication, to those at highest risk of either becoming a victim of gang/group gun violence, or those likely to engage in those same activities. 

Ceasefire/CGICs plan is to continue to focus and target the most violent gangs/groups to reduce violence. This will be done by coordinating and partnering with our Departments CRTs and CROs, our local and federal law enforcement partners, the District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, and our community partners. CGIC regularly communicates with Area Commanders to provide them with locations, based on data and intelligence, that are impacted by active gang/group violence, so they can allocate resources to these areas for high-visibility and proactive enforcement. Since the beginning of the year, Ceasefire, in conjunction with our partnerships, has targeted and arrested numerous individuals that have engaged in gang/group violence. Crime data has shown a reduction in shootings and homicides during this time period. 

At the investigative level, we follow up on reports on theft, review video surveillance and distribute emails of suspect(s) who are in violation of theft(s).  We request officers to Field Interview (Contact) people in attempt to ID them.

We distribute All Points Bulletin (APB) “TrakFlyers” to neighboring agencies.

If the suspect(s) are identified, and we have enough Probable Cause to arrest we issue Ramey Warrants for the arrest.

At the patrol Level, I would confirm with Area Commanders, but we do have extra patrols at locations where thefts are more apparent.  As you are aware we have our daily call ins to discuss and also our Monday Crime Meetings to discuss deployment strategies 

Current 2024 data suggests there were more national business closings in 2024 than in previous years.  This data has also affected the City of Oakland and our merchants. In addition to crime, numerous factors have resulted in store closures, including Inflation, remote workers, and changing consumer habits.

While the Oakland Police Department cannot control many of the factors causing Oakland businesses to close, we work diligently with our merchants in an effort to reduce their being the victim of criminal activity.

In order to reduce merchant criminal activities, we encourage robust relationships between the Department and our businesses.  This relationship allows us to share the latest information on what is happening in the community and how we may partner with them in response.  Some of our responses may include Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CDPTED) reviews, which review a business's security infrastructure to reduce criminal activity.  Others provide educational information on the features and benefits of private security and surveillance systems.  Information on how to become a part of a Business Improvement District (BID) may also be provided.  We have “Walking” (Foot Patrol) officers who respond to merchants' needs and further develop relationships to prevent crime.  These are just some of the many direct approaches we utilize to reduce merchant crime.

The Department also collaborates with numerous external partners to assist local merchants, including the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol (Retail Theft Task Force), Federal partners, and local task forces such as the vehicle theft task force.  

Recently, the City of Oakland has begun installing and implementing city-wide surveillance cameras. These systems allow real-time crime response, which should prove particularly beneficial in our merchant corridors.

In conclusion, the Oakland Police Department is encouraging strong community relationships, inter-agency cooperation, and the utilization of modern technologies. We believe that by working together, we can effectively decrease criminal activities affecting our merchants and provide them the best opportunity to thrive in the City of Oakland.  

• The Violent Crime Operations Center was disbanded in January of 2024. I took over as the Commander of the Support Operations Division. The Special Resources Section (SRS), which includes the CRT (Crime reduction teams) and the CRO ( Community resource officers) was tasked with dealing with robberies in BFO2. The teams' primary mission is to work with our Criminal Investigation Division in identifying, locating and arresting robbery suspects in areas 4, 5, and 6.
• There has been a 21% decrease in robberies in 2024. 2024 YTD we have had 2082 robberies, compared to 2023 YTD 2664. We conduct daily operations where we locate and arrest robbery suspects and serve subsequent search warrants to recover evidence linked to the cases. We often combine teams to address a specific area and or group. This approach has proven to be successful. However, due to staffing issues, it's been a challenge to implement a sustainable plan. We often have to relocate to other areas of BFO2 to address gun violence and Homicides.
• The SRS East is operating in a 25% deficit. We have 7 openings for officers and 1 sergeant vacancy.

Robberies have seen a YTD decrease in 2024 compared to 2023. That has been achieved through overall great police work by patrol investigations, follow-up criminal investigation and then apprehension by the Special Resources Sections in the East and West BFOs. The team has focused on working with CID and crime analyst to identify robbery sprees and repeat offenders who perpetuate the majority of the robberies in Oakland. For example, after the team was able to focus on the "Jet Life crew" (who was responsible for multiple Blipping/Robbery sprees in Dec 2023 - March 2024), the entire city saw a major decrease in robberies.

The struggle is resources as well as the release of arrested individuals, especially juveniles. CID and Data Analyst Gubin analyze arrest data and found that the average release time for arrestees have been an average of three days. We have found that arresting the perpetrators have temporary reductions until they are released and decide to reengage in the criminal activities.

Additionally, each Area Commander has used violence suppression high visibility overtime to harden the most vulnerable areas such as Chinatown, Temescal, Lakeshore, and Saigon.

For SRS West YTD, the team has apprehended 62 robbery suspects and 15 homicide suspects. In the course of violence suppression and robbery suppression according to weekly crime mapping, SRS West has recovered 76 firearms with subsequent arrest. 

• The Oakland Police Department has pivoted their approach to Human Trafficking Enforcement Operations. Prior to August 2024, Oakland PD operations were centered around arresting sex buyers for solicitation for prostitution (647(b) PC). However, during the last two years, sex buyers have not faced consequences (charges) for such offenses.
• In August 2024, the Oakland Police Department Vice Child Exploitation Unit in conjunction with the FBI, Special Resources Sections, Patrol Officers and Ceasefire conducted eight (8) operations which resulted in twenty (20) arrests centered around sex traffickers and two (2) juveniles being rescued. Those arrests resulted in (5) gun arrests, vehicles towed and electronics being recovered for evidence. Additional follow-up from these operations have resulted in three (3) additional felony arrests. Several other vehicle stops also resulted in traffic citations. During these operations, advocates from the District Attorney's Office and Department of Violence Prevention were made available to any sex workers arrested or contacted. 
• Federal partners continue to assist with federal prosecution on certain cases that reach their mandates. 
• The Oakland Police Department Traffic Division assisted with DUI Saturation along the International Boulevard corridor which resulted in several citations. Our outside partners from the California Highway Patrol and Alameda County Sherriff's Office also assisted with traffic enforcement. 
• The Oakland Police Department has planned to have the Human Trafficking hotline be text enabled. Once IT has completed their task, OPD will present the revamped at community training and events. 
• The Oakland Police Department is part of Mayor's Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (MACHT) . The goal is to collaborate and combine services centered around prevention, intervention and enforcement.

Mayor's Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (MACHT) has formed subcommittees focusing on advancing specific efforts, including:

• Prevention Subcommittee:  focus on public awareness campaigns to share information about the signs of grooming and what resources are available.  This committee leads ongoing outreach efforts in Oakland public schools, and had a special campaign during Sexually Exploited Minors week.
• Intervention Subcommittee: housing insecurity is a key factor that leaves individuals vulnerable to being sex trafficked.  This subcommittee's main focus is strengthening emergency shelter and transitional housing services for victims of sex trafficking.  
• Enforcement Subcommittee:  the first focus is interrupting the sex trafficking market on International Blvd (see above). The second is working towards the creation of a buyer education program that will be implemented through the court system.  
• Responding to an urgent need:  In the spring of this year, Covenant House announced they would be closing the Dreamcatcher minor emergency shelter within six weeks.   The MACHT sprang into action and worked collectively to identify an alternative service provider to ensure there wasn't a prolonged gap in services for sexually exploited youth.  This included Dream Youth Health Clinic opening a new Wellness Center at the same location on 09/20. 

This question can refer to the 1st question. We will add that over the past year, CGIC implemented a weekly NIBIN meeting (consisting of the Ceasefire/CGIC team, CID investigators, crime lab firearms unit, external partners, and analysts) where ballistics from shooting scenes and recovered firearms are scientifically analyzed to identify links between shooting scenes. This has tremendously fruitful in the way that this process creates actionable intelligence, providing real-time data and what gangs/groups, are actively engaged in shootings. During the NIBIN meetings, the crime lab firearms unit examiner will conduct a E-trace of any recovered firearms, where firearms purchasers are identified, and a potential pattern of firearms straw purchasing may be 

uncovered. We partner with the ATF, where an ATF Task Force Officer is assigned to CGIC, to identify straw purchasers and investigate the influx of firearms into our community. Year to date, Ceasefire has recovered over 100 firearms. Since the implantation of the NIBIN meeting, Ceasefire has made numerous arrests of gang/group members who have been involved in shootings. 

• Sideshow events have been an ongoing challenge for the Oakland Police Department. This illegal activity, which usually takes place late at night, on early morning weekends, attracts hundreds, sometimes thousands of vehicles and spectators from all over the state. These events have grown increasingly violent toward other participants, community members, and the police 
• In order to address the illegal sideshow events in our city, the Oakland Police Department has implemented an operation plan to address sideshows. The Plan includes the deployment of three patrol squads ( 24 officers ), three 3 sergeants and a Lieutenant who serves as the incident commander. The deployments are scheduled on the weekends. In addition to the sideshow rotations. OPD also deploys additional resources during certain holidays ( NYE, 4th of July, Cinco de Mayo, and September 15th). The additional resources are added to properly address the hazards of sideshow. 
• At the direction of the Governor, CHP has been tasked with deploying enforcement units in Oakland to assist OPD with identified crime hot spots. 

• UAV's can be used during sideshow incidents. However, there is certain criteria that need to be met (per policy) before we can deploy drones. 
• As an example, OPD just finished the September 14&15 weekend operation.

Area Captains and Community Resource Officers (CROs) have actively participated in community meetings to share essential safety tips specific to seniors. We emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant while walking in public, particularly when alone. We've collaborated with local media outlets to enhance community awareness to spread the message. 

Additionally, we are engaging community groups as ambassadors to support seniors, encouraging them to walk in groups of three to four for added safety against potential assaults and robberies. We advise seniors to limit the amount of cash they carry, which may draw unwanted attention. 

We are leveraging technology by encouraging local businesses and residents to install surveillance cameras to help identify those targeting vulnerable seniors. We have also increased police presence in these areas through enhanced patrols, including foot officers and command posts in hotspots where these crimes occur. 

• Robberies, shootings, homicides, and burglaries remain priorities of focus for Area 1.
• With the assistance of the Special Resources Section -West (SRS), we continue violence suppression throughout Area 1 to stem the tide of robberies, shootings and homicides.
• As part of the 2023 Crime Plan, foot patrols, traffic enforcement, and security checks will be focused throughout Area 1 and in the downtown areas such Jack London Square, Chinatown and the business districts.
• On Friday, Saturdays, and Sunday nights patrol resources are utilized to address activities in the downtown clubs. 
• Our “Big Four” Detail continue to provide patrols around Kaiser, Clorox, Blue Shield and PG&E. 
• Patrol Teams are directed to focus on serious and violent crime incidents through preventative patrols, collaborative community efforts, and focused enforcement and investigations. 
• Problem-solving projects continued to address public safety, quality of life issues, and crimes committed in the violence-concentrated areas

Reduce robberies (Armed and Strong Arm) by 10% will be the overall priorities for Area 2. Answering the calls for service will always be an Area 2 priority. 

When the calls for service allow, patrol officers will focus on the Beat priorities as listed below.

Beat Priorities Requiring Foot Patrol and Patrol Officer Coordination will be updated weekly after 

Monday crime meeting: 

Oakland Police Department Strategic Plan 

Beat 8:

• Westlake Terrace area robberies (28th St and Broadway and Valdez) 
• KONO/ Broadway, commercial burglaries 
• Valdez -open project in conjunction with Neighborhood Services

Beat 9: 

• Piedmont Ave corridor for robberies, commercial and auto burglaries 
• Broadway Businesses 

Beat 10: 

• Recent shooting activity 900 block 45th Street as well as 45th Street/ Market (Sideshow) (Weekends) 
• 5400-6000 San Pablo Ave Corridor shootings, robberies, and commercial burglaries. Ghost Town gang and NSO (North Side Oakland) are in conflict, and there has been an uptick in shot spotter activations. 

Beat 11: 

• Shattuck Ave corridor for robberies, commercial and auto burglaries 
• Bushrod Park surrounding area 
• Driver Park (6100 Adeline) Drug dealing 

Beat 12: 

• College Ave, Broadway, Shattuck Ave, and Telegraph Ave corridor for robberies Walking Officers. Patrol Dogwatch officers will conduct direct patrols, as in the business districts. 

Beat 13:

• Montclair Village - ATM/ Estes Robberies and commercial burglaries 

Beat 14: 

The Lakeshore/Grand Corridor has seen an increase in smash and grab robberies, ATM robberies and carjackings. Focused enforcement and visible deterrent (Command Post when available) to prevent violent crime. Foot Patrol Unit provides merchant contacts and visible police presence on a daily weekday basis.  

Beat 15:  

Lakeshore project. Loud music, double parking, traffic congestion.  Patrol continues to assist with extra patrols. Coordination with City of Oakland Public Works, OFD, and Permit Compliance to remodel Pine Knoll Park to prevent the sideshows, ATV and reckless driving in the park.   

Beat 16:  

Walgreens for theft; Robberies in the residential areas. When possible increased Patrol. 

Beat 17: 

Prostitution in beat 17.  Security checks from Patrol would help. Coordination with the Special Victims Section, Vice Crimes Unit for sustained operations. Federal Bureau of Investigations funding is available and supplemented with CROs when available. 

Beat 18:  

Highland Park crew and related felonious crimes. Security checks to identify and remove possible points of violence such as memorials and gatherings are mandatory. The Special Resources Section will focus on the various targets of the Highland crew and OTC feud to prevent violence.  

Beat 19:  

Union Point Park and Embarcadero Cove - Conduct security checks for any new tents.  Patrol can help with security checks. 

Prostitution on the track - Patrol can assist with security checks. Coordination with the Special Victims Section, Vice Crimes Unit for sustained operations. Federal Bureau of Investigations funding is available and supplemented with Violence Suppression Units and CROs when available. 

Illegal gambling shacks. CROs to implement surveillance operations, utilized human intelligence, and conduct long-term investigations.  Patrol can assist by conducting security checks and extra patrols. 

Search warrant services at identified illegal casinos and request stay-away orders for individuals convicted of crimes related to these gambling shacks. 

Increased police presence in Little Saigon along International Blvd, E12th Street, and E10th Street from 1st Ave to 14th Ave. 

Area 4 aims to reduce violent crime through enhanced investigations, community engagement, and intelligence-driven enforcement.  

Additionally, the plan includes tackling property crimes and improving the overall quality of life by collaborating with city agencies for proactive initiatives. 

Currently, Area 4 has achieved a 20% reduction in the Violent Crime Index (YTD).

To further reduce violent crime, the focus will be on the following strategies: 

• Leverage the ShotSpotter system: Prioritize field duties and follow-up tasks based on ShotSpotter data. Whenever possible, capture, review, and share video evidence with the Department and CGIC to understand and prevent violent incidents or retaliation. 
• Address potential retaliation: Forward victims of shootings who might retaliate to DVP and CGIC for targeted violence prevention efforts. 
• Conduct thorough investigations: Perform comprehensive preliminary investigations of serious and violent crimes. Quickly disseminate intelligence on wanted individuals, warrants, and descriptions for effective follow-up, targeted stops, and arrests. 
• Analyze crime trends: Assess crime patterns and victim or location predictability in Area 4. 
• Weekly coordination with CID: Regularly follow up with CID investigators to address investigative needs and provide support from Patrol and SRS as required. 
• Handle group or gang conflicts: Refer such conflicts to Cease Fire for intervention. 

YTD, Area 4 has made notable progress in reducing property crimes, we will continue the following: 

Deployment of Command Post at Robbery Hot Spots. (Specifically, Fruitvale, Dimond, and Laurel neighborhoods) 

Deploy units in areas where our ShotSpotter activations are happening. (Specifically Beat 21, 23, 25). 

Continue high visibility throughout Area 4. (Currently at a 34% reduction)
Focus resources on Home Invasions. (Specifically Beat  22, 24, 25)
Continue focus on Burglaries. (Currently at an 18% reduction) 

Area 4 will maintain foot patrols in the Fruitvale corridor, continue partnerships with ACSO and CHP for increased visibility, and collaborate with Project Dignity, Oakland DOT, and Oakland Public Works to provide shelter for the unhoused and improve the health and safety of encampments. 

The plan for Area 5 is to reduce violent crime through thorough investigations, community outreach and collaboration, and intelligence-driven enforcement. Area 5 will also focus on reducing property crimes and improving the quality of life by collaborating with city entities for proactive engagement. 

To address crime in Area 5, we will focus on the following key actions: 

• Ensure thorough preliminary investigations of serious and violent crimes. Swiftly distribute intelligence on suspects, wants, warrants, and descriptions for timely investigative follow-ups, intelligence-led stops, and arrests. 
• Leverage the ShotSpotter system to prioritize field duties and follow-up tasks. When feasible, capture, review, and share video evidence with the Department and CGIC to better understand and prevent violent incidents or retaliations. 
• Refer potential retaliatory shooting victims to DVP and CGIC for violence suppression strategies. 
• Analyze crime trends and patterns in Area 5 to assess predictability in victims or locations. In cases where public information or outreach is necessary, Area 5 will request assistance from OPD PIO and/or NSD. 
• Conduct weekly follow-ups with CID investigators to identify ongoing investigative needs and gather leads requiring assistance from Patrol and SRS. 
• Refer gang or group conflicts to Cease Fire for mediation and violence interruption.
• Area 5 has made significant progress in reducing property-related crimes, with auto burglaries down by over 45% and robberies reduced by over 21%. To maintain these improvements, Area 5 will: 
• Sustain foot patrol units along the International corridor. 
• Continue partnerships with ACSO and CHP to increase law enforcement presence in Area 5. 
• Collaborate with Project Dignity, Oakland DOT, and Oakland Public Works to facilitate shelter for the unhoused and improve the health and safety of encampments, enhancing the well-being of the unhoused community.

• Area 6’s plan is to reduce violent crime through quality investigations, community outreach, and intelligence-based enforcement.  Area 6 will also focus on the reduction of property crimes and increased quality of life by partnering with city entities for proactive engagement. 
• Area 6 is experiencing an overall 11% reduction in the Violent Crime Index.  Although violent crime is down, homicides are up 5% year to date.  In order to reduce violent crime in Area 6 I will in summary focus on the following: 
•  Utilize the ShotSpotter system when prioritizing field duties and follow-up tasks. When possible, video evidence will be captured, reviewed, and disseminated to the Department and CGIC to understand and prevent violent flare-ups or retaliation. 
• Victims of shootings with the potential to retaliate will be forwarded to DVP and CGIC for violence suppression.  
• Complete thorough preliminary investigations of prioritized serious and violent crimes. Quickly disseminate intel-led wants, warrants, and descriptions for efficient investigative follow-up, intel-led stops, and arrests. 
• Crime trends and patterns in Area 6 that indicate victim or location predictability are to be assessed by OPD PIO and/or NSD by Area 6 request for consideration of public info, education, or outreach.
• Weekly follow-up with CID investigators to identify investigative needs and leads in need of assistance from Patrol and SRS (Continuous).
• Group or gang conflicts will be referred to Cease Fire.
• Area 6 has made significant improvement in the reduction of property related crimes where auto burglaries have been reduced by over 80% and robberies have been reduced by over 10%.  With that, Area 6 will maintain foot patrol units in the Hegenberger and 98th Ave corridor.  Continue our partnership with ACSO and CHP for increased presence in Area 6.  Work with Project Dignity, Oakland DOT, and Oakland Public Works to assist in facilitating shelter for the unhoused while servicing encampments to increase the health and safety of the unhoused community.

As of September 20, 2024, there are 686 sworn officers.

The city is currently conducting a staffing study to determine the appropriate number of officers for the City of Oakland.

We presently have an active academy that will be graduating in December. We have second academy this year that is slated to start in November. We have three additional academies tentatively scheduled for 2025.

We are hiring professional staff (non-sworn) in the areas you mentioned. However, several of those positions remain frozen, and some have already been transferred to other City departments.

The Foot Patrol Unit for the Bureau of Field Operation 1 is shared among Area 1 ,2 ,3 and deployed according to crime trends/patterns.

• There is one officer dedicated to Chinatown which is the Liaison Officer. 
• However, there is a Patrol Beat Officer also that patrols the area for each shift.   
• There is also a Foot Patrol Unit that also assists with patrolling Chinatown even though there are utilized for Area 1, 2, 3

Oakland Police Department Professional Development Wellness Unit (PDWU) 

Mission Statement 

• Take a proactive and holistic approach in the PDWU by providing wellness services, mindfulness, and educational opportunities that foster mind, body, and resiliency. 

Vision 

• Our vision is to continuously create a culture of wellness in the agency. 

Wellness Education Opportunities 

Learning Domain 14 Officer Wellness- Mandatory in Police Academy is taught in every academy. 

• Emotional Intelligence 
• Mental Health 
• Substance Abuse 
• Financial Wellness 
• Officer Resiliency  

Continued Police Training  (CPT) weekly 

• Stress Management

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) once per month 

• First Responder Wellness 
• Cultural Responsiveness (mental health wellness)  

OPD Wellness tools and resources 

• Burnalong – Fitness, financial, mental, wellness app 
• Lexipol/ Cordico Mental health app 
• Kaiser First Responders   

Physical Fitness 

• Gym 
• Cross Fitness  oom

Wellness Area 

• Meditation room 
• Lactation Room 
• Wellness Resource Center 
• Grab and go nutritional food items

Therapist 

• In house Therapist for Sworn 

• (59) 8.58% of the sworn staff currently live in Oakland 
• (80) 25.8% of the professional staff which includes Police Officer Trainees and part-time employees currently live in Oakland. 

Flock Cameras are fixed position automated license plate readers that capture the license plate of vehicles that pass by them. Officers are then able to search for vehicles use license plate number, partial license plate number, color, make, or model of the vehicle.

We have procured 290 cameras of which approximately 105 are now operational.

Installation began a few weeks ago and should be completed by the end of October. 

OPD worked with Crime Analysis to determine hot spots throughout the city and worked with Flock to identify ingress/egress points around the hot spots in addition to ingress/egress points to major thoroughfares and highways.

Technology allows us to work more efficiently. Flock allows investigators to more efficiently review potential suspect vehicles related to burglaries, stolen vehicles, and other high felony crimes.

Dr. Carlo Beckman and Lt. Omar Daza-Quiroz 

Each entity administrates their own cameras. The 290 cameras assigned to OPD are under our control.

In general a lot of feedback doubting the stats. How to respond to folks who say stats showing crime is trending down is inaccurate.

We are diligently working to investigate and arrest those responsible for committing crimes. We also are presenting the cases to the district attorney's office for charging.

There is one system that everyone utilizes for crime reporting that I know of, called CopLogic.  The report system is quite user friendly, although there are multiple steps.  When I was in General Crimes we contacted CopLogic in attempts to streamline it and we have eliminated a lot of tasks.  I believe General Crimes is still working with CopLogic to make the reporting system easier.

We also make it known to our community to always report criminal activity.  Our number one goal is to serve the community of Oakland professionally, respectfully and constitutionally.  We also encourage the public to make reports so that we may serve them and investigate any criminal activity.  The PIO’s office can also send out reminders via social media platforms and also during public forums.

Dispatchers have to answer 9-1-1 calls first, then 7 digit emergency calls and then non-emergency calls.  Dispatchers are trained to maintain professionalism, even when provoked and to process calls efficiently.  If there are 9-1-1 calls pending, dispatchers may place non-emergency calls on hold to answer and triage 9-1-1 calls.

We are working collaboratively with HR and Recruiting to hire dispatchers to fill vacancies and make improvements to our answering speed.

Sometimes no response at all. What are police response times? There is not an estimated time of arrival provided because police officers and resources are dispatched to priority calls first, with threats to life being the priority and there are instances where critical incidents may absorb a majority of resources, which leads to a delay in response time.

• Priority 1 – situation involves imminent potential for serious injury to persons, a serious public hazard, when an expedited response will enhance the likelihood of apprehending a felony suspect
• Priority 2 – urgent, but not an emergency, in-progress misdemeanor, stolen vehicle reports, just-occurred felonies or misdemeanors when expedited response may enhance the likelihood of apprehending a suspect that is no longer on the scene
• Priority 3 – cold reports – non-emergencies, no indication of danger to life and/or property

Please see our recent announcement of many improvements making progress for 911

When initiating or continuing a pursuit, involved officers are required to carefully weigh the risks potentially posed by continuing the pursuit (to the safety of the community, engaged person(s), and officers), against the benefit to public safety as a result of the immediate apprehension of the engaged person(s). 

Generally, Department Policy only allows for the pursuit of vehicles related to violent forcible crimes and/or crimes involving the possession of a firearm.  

Per policy, a pursuit may be initiated when there is reasonable suspicion to believe a person committed a violent forcible crime and/or a crime involving a firearm, or probable cause that the person is in possession of a firearm.

The policy is being reviewed by the Oakland Police Commission. We have included a link to a presentation regarding pursuits for the Police Commission Community Policing Ad Hoc.

• The Oakland Police Department (OPD) collaborates closely with the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) through a dedicated liaison. This liaison plays a crucial role in facilitating direct communication between the OPD's Special Victims Section and the school district.
  
  By maintaining this partnership, the liaison ensures that any investigations involving juveniles are addressed promptly and effectively.
  
  Additionally, the liaison serves as a bridge, enabling the sharing of important information and resources between the police and schools. This collaboration enhances the ability to support affected students and their families, providing them with the necessary resources and assistance during challenging times. Overall, this partnership aims to create a safer environment for youth within the community while promoting proactive measures to prevent future incidents. 
• The Oakland Police Department has a partnership with the Oakland Asian Youth Service Committee.  It serves youth aged 12-21 (6th to 12th graders) and aims to help members develop social, leadership, analytical, and organizational skills through various projects. AYSC hosts events for social interaction and community service, and provides opportunities for members to run for board positions in a supportive environment.
• One Officer is assigned to P.A.L. Program.  P.A.L. is dedicated to offering programs and opportunities for kids to work with positive role models and learn about success and failure without guns and drugs. The officer is on site and provides services to youth ages 5-18, at no cost.
  
  The mission of a Police Athletic League (PAL) typically focuses on fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and youth in the community. Key goals include but not limited to: 1. Building Trust, 2.Youth Development, 3.Community Engagement, 4. Mentorship and 5. Preventing Crime. Overall, PAL aims to empower youth, foster community ties, and create a safer, more connected community. 
• One Officer is currently assigned to the OK Program while there remains a vacancy for a second officer. Police departments select Black male officers to work with affiliates, who undergo six days of training to serve as coordinators. This initiative promotes community policing and involves recruiting and organizing Black men from the community to support the boys.
  
  Support includes daily communication with teachers, guidance sessions, after-school activities, and late-night conflict mediation.  The program emphasizes that reducing the homicide rate of Black men and boys requires a collective effort from the community, advocating for support and collaboration. 

The OPD Victim Specialist serves as a liaison connecting victims of crime with the California Victim Compensation Program and community- based service providers as well as assisting with completing Cal VCP documentation.  The Victim Specialist provides crisis intervention and referrals for supportive counseling to minimize the traumatic impact of crime and the criminal justice process as well as referrals for direct services, continued follow-up care,  advocacy and criminal justice support. OPD Victim Services manages the Victim Tow Fund, which was funded by City Council to help homicide victim families and other crime victims facing financial hardship recover vehicles that were towed for evidence or due to a crime. Victim Services has created multiple brochures on topics such as Domestic Violence, Homicide, Human Trafficking and Hate Crime that provide information on local, state and national organizations and resources for victims of crime. These brochures are available at the Eastmont Station, Police Administration Building and on the City of Oakland website.

The Department has and continues to exercise community-based policing. We have officers designated as Community Resource Officers within their own unit. They are assigned to Police Beats across the entire city and work in partnership with various stakeholders to address Beat-specific issues.

At present, the Oakland Police Department is endeavoring to provide Crisis Intervention training to all sworn personnel. CIT is a 40-hour course that instructs officers on how to address mental health crises and offer alternatives to incarceration. The regional CIT training center is presently housed at OPD.  Alameda County Behavioral Health is our collaborative partner for the CIT program. The majority of our instructors are licensed clinicians and psychologists. In order to remain current with the most current resource referral options and best practices, we have configured the program in this manner. 

There are three people who are assigned to the OPD Mental Health Unit.  The MHU supervisor, the CIT Coordinator, and one officer who responds to calls with a clinician.   
 
Additionally, OPD offers a variety of dual response models to individuals who are undergoing a mental health crisis. We have deployed three distinct varieties of dual response models throughout the city. We have two clinicians who respond together, and patrol officers can respond if requested by the clinician (37C51). Additionally, we have an officer and a clinician who ride together and respond to calls (37L41).  Third, we have the Community Assessment Transportation Team (CATT).  The CATT team consists of a clinician and a paramedic who respond in a Faulk SUV. The CATT team's primary focus is to provide alternatives to John George and Incarceration.   
 
Based on our most recent audit, OPD responds to approximately 42 mental health inquiries per day on its own. This number might actually be higher.  At present, there is no database system that enables us to monitor statistics regarding the quantity or nature of inquiries that the OPD responds to. Typically, all statistics are collected manually at communications. Currently, the John George Psychiatric Pavilion has 69 beds available for the entire county.

The Chief will be in uniform in November after completing the state-required courses.