Area 1 (Police Beats 1 - 7) is commanded by Captain Clay Burch. Area 1 consists of the area traditionally known as West Oakland as well as Downtown Oakland. Area 1 is bordered by the City of Emeryville and Area 2 on the north, Lake Merritt on the east, the Oakland Estuary on the south, and the Bay on the west. Area 1 is a diverse community with multiple thriving business districts, including Jack London Square, Downtown Oakland, and City Hall (Frank Ogawa Plaza).
Area 2 (Beats 8 - 13) is commanded by Captain Lisa Jeff Ausmus. Area 2 is composed of the Pill Hill, Temescal, Rockridge, and Uptown neighborhoods. It is bordered by the City of Emeryville and the City of Berkeley to the west, Contra Costa County to the north, and Area 1, the City of Piedmont, and Area 3 to the south and east. Area 2 has a combination of residential neighborhoods and the commercial districts of Rockridge, Temescal, Montclair, and Piedmont Avenue.
Area 4 (Beats 20 - 25) is commanded by Captain James Bassett. The area is located in the central part of Oakland. It is bordered by Area 3 to the west, Redwood Regional Park to the north, Area 5 to the east, and the Oakland Estuary to the south. Area 4 is a diverse community with the thriving business districts of Fruitvale and Macarthur Boulevard.
Area 5 (Beats 26 - 30) is commanded by Captain Anthony Tedesco. The area is traditionally known as East Oakland. It is bordered by the City of Alameda to the south. Area 4 to the north and west and area 6 to the east.
Learn about Community Policing in Oakland
Learn about the many professional positions where you can support the Oakland Police Department's goals and mission. OPD employs auditors, communications operators, crime analysts, dispatchers, evidence and services technicians, and records specialists as well as other positions. These positions are not necessarily open and vacant at this time; links provided for informational purposes.
Learn about criminalist positions in the Oakland Police Department's Crime Lab
Learn about the two ways to complete the police officer written examination requirement.
Salary and benefits for Oakland Police officers and staff.
Learn about becoming an Oakland Police Communications Dispatcher. Job links provided for informational purposes, as positions not always available.
OPD requires that all police officer applicants pass a an oral exam. OPD offers workshops to help prepare applicants to succeed with this step in the process.
Learn more about the PAT.
Before you can join the OPD, you are required to pass a background investigation.