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After Eight Homicides in a Week, Oakland Police Officers Struggle to Respond and Ask: Where are the Violence Interrupters?
Sep 26, 2022
Contact: Oakland Police Officers' Association
Phone: (510) 834-9670
Email: policeofficers@opoa.org
September 26, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After Eight Homicides in a Week, Oakland Police Officers Struggle to Respond and Ask: Where are the Violence Interrupters?
OAKLAND – Crime statistics published today illustrate the bloodshed on Oakland streets. Oakland police take on average 2,000 calls for a service a day, with only 680 sworn staff to respond. Oakland police officers are exhausted by the daily violence. Our residents are frustrated by epically long wait times for a police officer to respond when they call.
This election season's candidates tout the city’s investment in violence reduction programs. But the overstretched police officers on the ground, many working mandatory overtime, have yet to see the burden of response taken off their shoulders. Programs like the Fire Department’s MACRO program, a non-police response alternative to many police calls, are nowhere to be found in this crisis.
“Every week, thousands of 911 calls come into the Oakland Police Department. Yet, amid the calls of murder and mayhem, a skeleton staff of police officers is struggling to respond. The violence seems to escalate, with eight (8) homicides in the last week. As we struggle to respond, we hear those on the campaign trail lauding MACRO for taking police calls, but we do not see any calls diverted. City leaders should stop talking about MARCO and have MACRO step up and take the calls they promised they would,” said Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan.
About the Oakland Police Officers’ Association: The Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA) represents all sworn members within the Oakland Police Department. Representing the hardest working Police Officers in America. The OPOA can be found on the Web at www.opoa.org.
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