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Police

Oakland releases police staffing study—it says a minimum of 877 officers are needed
After denying a public records request, the city reversed course and released the full report
 • 
Tim Gardner
3
Oakland is withholding a 2024 police staffing study that cost residents $310,000
The 300-page study says Oakland needs 805 sworn police officers, but the city won’t release it, claiming exemption under the California Public Records…
 • 
Tim Gardner
9
“Our officers have been conditioned to do as little as possible—to stay out of trouble”
Zealous investigations of Oakland police officers have created a downward spiral of morale and performance
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Rajni Mandal
13
Oakland Police Department can’t escape oversight—one man stands in the way
Federal monitor Robert Warshaw has a long history of exploiting distressed cities for personal financial gain. Is he doing it to Oakland?
 • 
Sanjana Friedman
39
Oakland Police Commission punts on the pursuit policy—Chief Mitchell takes charge
At the latest Police Commission meeting, Chief Mitchell states he will revise the pursuit policy. He notes that officers "fear doing their job" due to…
 • 
Rajni Mandal
Governor Newsom gives Oakland an ultimatum on policing
Newsom took aim at the Oakland Police Commission who recently refused a city council directive to update the police pursuit policy
 • 
Rajni Mandal
17
Oakland's city employee counts show a dramatic shift in service priorities over five years
Public safety staff declined by 206 employees (-12%), and other departments added 336 employees (+13%). Police are slated to bear the majority of…
 • 
Tim Gardner
21
Oakland’s crime data mess: How politicians are playing shell games with public safety
Cherry-picked stats and untested reforms have left Oakland’s public safety in disarray.
 • 
Tim Gardner
10
Oakland employee compensation grew 2.5 times faster than inflation, far outpacing other cities
Since 2013, Oakland grew employee compensation by $411M. That’s $184M more than needed to keep pace with inflation. It far exceeds raises of other…
 • 
Michael Ubell
 and 
Tim Gardner
32
Oakland 2024 crime trends are mixed, but CHP efforts are delivering significant impact
Compared to 2023, homicides and firearm assaults are down 10-20%, but residential robberies have doubled. For other crimes, the data is still unclear.
 • 
Tim Gardner
5
My Journey to a Safer West Oakland Neighborhood
Lessons learned on how to engage neighbors, friends, family, police and city government to build a better community
 • 
Carol Wyatt
4
Oakland's Violent 2023 Occurred as Crime Fell in the Rest of the United States
The reckoning with police violence in the United States over the past decade has led to policy changes that have reduced police killings, but the…
 • 
Jacob Rukin
15
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