FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2019

Contact: Oakland Police Officers’ Association: (510) 834-9670 or policeofficers@opoa.org

OAKLAND – The Citizen Police Review Agency (CPRA), the investigative arm of Oakland’s Police Commission, conducted an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the officer involved shooting of an armed suspect on March 11, 2018. In its recently issued 49-page report, the CPRA found that as to each of the Officers that discharged their weapons, that “Force was used, but it was justified under the Fourth Amendment and OPD rules” and fully “exonerated” each of them. The CPRA’s investigative exoneration of the officers parallels the findings and conclusions of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and the Oakland Police Department who also exonerated the officers after extensive independent investigations. Despite three independent investigations with no finding of fault, these exonerated officers remain off-duty on involuntary leave.

 

After learning that the officers were again exonerated, Oakland Police Officers’ Association President Barry Donelan said “These Police Officers responded to a citizen’s call for help about an armed suspect in their neighborhood. The officers tried to defuse the situation but the armed suspect engaged our officers putting their lives and the lives of our residents in danger. For over a year this incident has been the subject of public debate that resulted in the unfair criticism and ridicule of these Officers. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office exonerated the officers, the Oakland Police Department exonerated the officers and now the independent investigative arm of the Police Commission has exonerated the officers. While these officers who risked their lives, suffered the public abuse of critics, cooperated with multiple investigations, and have been completely vindicated, inexplicably they have not been returned to duty.”

Donelan continued, “Oakland Police Officers are America’s hardest working Police Officers. Hardworking Oakland Police Officers understand that they labor under more scrutiny by more entities and oversight than almost any other Police Department in America, but Oakland’s finest take pride in serving and protecting the residents of our City every day.”

About the Oakland Police Officers’ Association: The Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA) represents all sworn members at all ranks 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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