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Spirit of America Day 2010

One laid off Oakland Police Officers speaks to NBC Nightly News

Hiring now! Contra Costa Sheriff

A sad day for Oakland 13 July 2010

For Oakland residents what does the loss of 80 Police Officers mean? Read OPD Press Release to find out.

On Day When 80 Oakland Police Officers are Laid Off, Talks with the Oakland City Council Stall; OPOA Letter to City Council Included Below

Oakland, CA – The Oakland Police Officer’s Association sent the following letter to members of the Oakland City Council today:

CouncilMembers:
We have negotiated in good faith and our door will continue to be open to members of the City Council. It has not been easy. By all accounts, including the Alameda County Grand Jury, the Oakland Police Department is woefully understaffed and these cuts, regardless of the public rhetoric, are devastating to the people of Oakland and dangerous to the police officers working the streets.

Since the City Council first began to focus on the fiscal crisis confronting Oakland, the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) has been willing to renegotiate the conditions of our employment, the contract we signed with the City to help resolve the problem. These concessions were made when our MOU was not even open to negotiation. In order to keep officers on the streets, some of our members lost as much as 19%. We gave back half of our scheduled pay raise, and we voluntarily agreed to pay into our pensions.

Even now, we continue to make concessions. Our negotiator has gone back to the City countless times, even during this weekend when his son was getting married, to make an offer that keeps the department viable, saves the City money and allows the citizens of Oakland the peace of mind that they will be protected.

Here is our offer:
• $30 million in concessions last year
• A two-tier system for new employees
• All members pay 7% more into their pensions

We have not personalized this issue with particular members of the city council, but it is clear the City needs a plan. The City Council needs to do more than just target our police officers. The Oakland Police Officers Association has done its share to tighten our belt and make sacrifices to assist our fellow citizens in Oakland. Our city deserves the kind of police protection that promises a safe community and allows us to build a healthy tax base.

We will go to the voters with the city council to ask for new resources. However, we continue to believe the laying off of police officers is a failed and ultimately costly policy.

Oakland Police Officer’s Association
Serving our community of Oakland. For more information, please visit www.OPOA.org.

OPOA Press Release_9 July 2010

Oakland Police Officers Offer Solutions to Ease Oakland’s Budget Problems, Including Paying Their Pensions
OPOA Talks with the Oakland City Council Stall Even After OPOA Offers Further Concessions to Prevent Police Officer Layoffs

Oakland, CA – The Oakland Police Officer’s Association sent the following letter to members of the Oakland City Council today:
It is unfortunate that time is running out, following a verdict many members of the Oakland Police Department have been up all night. As a city we worked together to allow a peaceful protest, at the same time safe guarding the citizens and limiting the destruction of property. The protest started peaceful, but it ended with 90 arrests, looting and thousands of dollars of property damage.

Let me be clear, the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) wants very much to work with you to resolve the budget problems confronting all of us. The people of Oakland deserve our best efforts.

We have listened closely to both the public and private comments offered by you. While there has been very little recognition of the concessions we made last year, we are willing to go to the core of the concerns you have raised.

In meetings with you this week we have made it clear that we are willing to pay 9 percent toward our pensions and create a two-tier system for new employees.

The offer this year is on top of $30 million in concessions we made last year.

In return, we want a police department that can safely protect the people of Oakland. We are asking that no police officer hired before 3-21-09 be laid off for the life of the present contract.

Council members, when does your own vision for our city take hold? The systemic issues that you talk about are not new. We hoped that you would have taken the opportunity to work with the community to enhance revenues.

You cannot continue to think that you made the correct decision to layoff cops. These Police Officers are leaving this Monday July 12 (in 3 days). The Alameda Grand Jury recently stated the City of Oakland needs 400 more police officers. In Los Angeles, the mayor has said that in spite of difficult economic times, the fact that he has maintained his police force has reduced crime, a decision that ultimately saves the city money.

We are willing to give up pieces of the contract you signed with us in order to keep our department viable, but taking police officers off the street is not the answer.

We are disappointed when you subscribe to the bare minimum of policing – a police response, essentially, after the violence has already taken hold, and an acceptance that stalking, home and business burglaries, extortion, vandalism, and other threatening ways of life are policed through internet contact.

Our offer is on the table.
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HeroCare July 2010 Newsletter

Click Here to View: HeroCare July 2010 Newsletter

Fleet Week

*More Information to Follow*

Oakland A’s Law Enforcement Day

Law Enforcement Day is Sunday,. August 8 at 1:05. Tickets are now on sale for OPD at the OPOA. Tickets are $9.00 with the BBQ at $5.00. The BBQ will be in “Lot B” from 11:00-12:30.

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