Contact: Oakland Police Officers' Association

Phone: (510) 834-9670 

Email: policeofficers@opoa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Council Should Address the 314% Increase in Homicides

OAKLAND – Two more homicides in Oakland last week. A transient was killed when he was set on fire and an elderly man was killed during a robbery. In response to the continued increase in violent crime, the Oakland Police Officers’ Association President Barry Donelan sent a letter to Council President Nikki Bas (the letter is attached) urging that Oakland’s federal stimulus funds be invested in our community to improve the lives of Oakland residents. The investment strategies: 

• Restore all public safety cuts to the police department, including traffic enforcement.
• Prioritize and invest in Public Works’ effort to combat blight and dumping in our city.
• Vaccinate every city worker, ensure they can return to work serving our citizens.
• Immediately implement the fire department’s plan for MACRO (Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland) with paramedics and firefighters taking primary responsibility for mental health calls.  

The letter was sent in advance of today’s Council Meeting at 1 p.m. (Access the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88330066369) discussing the funding.  

The meeting coincides with the release of new crime statistics that demonstrate the continued increase in violent crime. The crime statistics are attached.