Mayor: "Want 1,100 police? Then Let's Go There"

As recently as a month ago Oakland mayor Ron Dellums said, "I don't believe the residents support the idea of a huge increase in the police force." In a stark turnaround, Dellums told an Oct. 13, 2007 community meeting, "If you want to go to 1,100, then let's have that conversation. ... If people decide in this community they want 1,100 police, then let's go there."

The occasion was a north Oakland event hosted by councilmember Brunner. Mayor Dellums spoke for approximately 40 minutes on a variety of topics, including public safety. Dozens of residents then had a minute each to state their concerns and ask questions.

Charles Pine, a co-founder of Oakland Residents for Peaceful Neighborhoods, called Oakland a "model city" for understaffing its police department. He posed a question to the mayor about the need for at least 1,100 officers.

To hear Pine's one-minute statement, click here.

After all the residents' statements, the mayor spoke in wide-ranging remarks for about 25 minutes. Dellums' first response was to Pine, welcoming a discussion of the need for 1,100 officers and contemplating that such indeed is the will of Oakland residents.

To hear a brief excerpt of Dellums' reply, click here.

Although opening the door to a "conversation," the mayor hardly declared himself in favor of an adequate police force. He limited himself to a ceiling of 803 officers, expressing his frustration that police chief Wayne Tucker could not simply impose an oppressive, professionally unwise work schedule comprised of alternating three- and four-day stretches of 12-hour shifts. The matter is currently in arbitration, with a decision expected in mid-November.

The mayor did not promise to follow up by using his office to promote a genuine community conversation about police understaffing in Oakland. In a sense, it does not matter. The debate began as long ago as 2004, when City Hall promised more officers if voters would pass Measure Y taxes. Voters accepted the commitment, but Oakland has had fewer police than when Measure Y was written ever since the ordinance went into effect. Despite the City's betrayal of commitments made when urging Measure Y, the mayor virtually said residents should pay more taxes if they want more police. Actually, proponents of an adequate police force are eager to identify plenty of funds in the existing City budget, if only the city council will make a serious commitment to 1,100 officers.