Contact: Oakland Police Officers' Association

Phone: (510) 834-9670 

Email: policeofficers@opoa.org

January 5, 2020 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

OAKLAND – The Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA) warned that murders, violence, assaults, and dangerous sideshows will likely increase in 2021 as the city continues to cut police and public safety budgets.

In a new series of paid advertisements, the OPOA called upon Oakland residents to speak up to City leaders to ensure their own safety after the dramatic rise in violent crime in 2020.  

“The violence in 2020 was unrelenting,” said Sgt. Barry Donelan, OPOA President. “The numbers of Oakland Police Officers are falling. We strive to serve the citizens, but there are so few of us and the demands of violent crime are so huge.”

Donelan said in 2020 crime statistics should concern every Oakland resident:

Oakland saw 102 murders (a 38% increase over 2019). There were 594 homicides and firearm assaults (a 65% increase over 2019). A further 407 (68% increase over 2019) occupied homes and vehicles were shot up in Oakland. Carjacking increased by 46% in 2020.  

Oakland Police Officers recovered 1,254 firearms from Oakland’s streets last year, a 44% increase over 2019. “These are weapons that cannot now be used on our streets, but we are only touching the surface,” Donelan said.

These crime figures should be shocking to the Mayor, City Council, and Police Commission, Donelan added. “City leaders have been safely in their homes during the pandemic on Zoom calls, so they don’t see or feel the violence that our residents and officers experience every day.”

“The citizens of Oakland need to wake up City leaders to what is going on in the streets, which is bloodshed, horror, broken lives, sadness, and fear,” he said.

Donelan said new cutbacks from the City are most likely going to make matters worse. He cited new City cuts that:

• Disband the Traffic Enforcement Division 
• Eliminate all walking, bicycle, and horse officers patrolling both downtown and in the neighborhoods.  
• Eliminate 8 Community Resource Officers (about 25% of the department's community policing officers, impacted beats are not yet determined).
• Eliminate Youth and school services, including the OK mentoring program, PAL, and Police Explorers 
• Cut 25% of officers assigned to Operation Ceasefire.
• Close the Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Unit that regulates liquor stores 
• Cancel the Police Academy scheduled for Spring 2021

Donelan and the OPOA advertisement urges citizens to take action: “Let the City Council, Mayor and Police Commission know you value your safety, your family’s safety, and our community’s safety, to ensure Oakland Police Officers are there when you need us,” the advertisement says.