Contact: Oakland Police Officers' Association

Phone: (510) 834-9670 

Email: policeofficers@opoa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The City of Oakland is in the throes of a crime wave that has reached alarming proportions in 2023. With over 2,000 robberies marking a 24% increase, more than 400 carjackings reflecting a 16% surge, and an astounding 10,000+ burglaries, a staggering 42% rise, the situation has escalated into a public safety crisis that demands immediate attention. 

OAKLAND – Seven months have passed since the dismissal of the police chief, a period marked not by decisive action but by inertia and indecision. Rather than actively pursuing a new leader for the police department to combat these substantial increases in crime, the police commission has been engaged in sparsely attended community meetings, soliciting opinions on what residents’ desire in their new police chief.

Barry Donelan, the President of the Oakland Police Officers' Association, has voiced his frustration and concern with a resounding call to action: "The time for talk has passed. In this critical moment of public safety crisis, action is not just necessary; it is imperative. Seven months have gone by – seven months too many. We must recruit a police chief now. Our community needs stability and certainty and a robust plan to address this spiraling crime. Enough is enough."

The time to act is now. The city's leadership must heed this call, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the dire need for a strong and capable police chief.