OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Frustration is growing with police union leaders in Oakland over staffing problems they say keep getting worse.
This comes on the heels of Oakland being ranked one of the most dangerous places to live in America.
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“Crime is still there and still a major concern of all cities and especially in Oakland,” said Tim Delavega, the treasurer of the Oakland Police Officers Association.
He believes crime in the city is largely driven by a lack of policing resources.
The union counts 649 sworn officers, with more than 100 on leave or modified assignment.
“We’re losing five to six officers a month. And when we talk to the officers that are exiting, it’s not that they’re leaving police work altogether. 60 percent of them are leaving to go to other agencies,” Delavega said.
During her campaign, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee promised to increase OPD staffing.
In a statement sent to ABC7 News, her office said:
“The City’s approach combines funding five police academies over the next two years to reach 678 officers, on our way to the 700 sworn officer goal. We are also strengthening the Department of Violence Prevention and our Ceasefire program…”
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The mayor’s office also highlights that crime has been steadily falling in recent months, despite U.S. News and World Report ranking Oakland as the second most dangerous place in America.
That report uses the latest FBI crime data from 2024 as one of the components in its ranking.
Others like Cat Brooks, of the Anti Police-Terror Project, disagree with many parts of the city’s approach to public safety.
“The data actually says that more police do not actually make us more safe. That actually more resources makes us more safe,” Brooks said.
Brooks says as a part of Oakland’s latest budget, OPD got a sizeable increase while other departments faced cuts.
And she questions whether the money going to hire more officers will be as effective as some hope.
“We’ve got hundreds of California Highway Patrol that are supplementing the Oakland Police Department. We’ve got the BART Police Department. We’ve got East Bay Parks and Rec. We’ve got the FBI. We’ve got other federal agencies. I just want to know how many cops it takes?” asked Brooks.
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