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KTVU Expose: Arrests Down 45%, Crime Up 25%
Arrests in Oakland are down 45 percent while armed robberies and other violent crimes are up 25 percent over the last five years, according to a KTVU special news investigation broadcast Nov. 29, 2006.
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KTVU investigation
(Click chart for video)
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The report identified one of the two major causes of the problem: the Negotiated Settlement Agreement. The City rushed to sign the agreement after four "Riders" officers were investigated for brutality – but before their indictment and trial. The officers were never convicted; in fact, they were eventually acquitted.*
As a result, retired police lieutenant Brian Thiem disclosed to KTVU, "You've got more detectives that are investigating police officers than are investigating homicides, robberies, and assaults all together."
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Retired police Lt. Brian Thiem |
Thiem also said, "The officers are afraid of getting complaints. Even if the complaints are investigated and turn out to be unfounded, just having complaints on their record now can very much affect their career." Over the past two years, he has seen officers "pull back."
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James Martin, whose son was robbed and killed, said, "People's lives are at stake here. The city is not safe."
Police chief Tucker was all denial. He made the meaningless remark, "It's a big boat to turn around in the middle of the water." Asked about the Settlement Agreement causing police to avoid situations that could lead to department scrutiny, Tucker said, "A work slowdown? I have been hearing we've got a work slowdown for a year. I don't see any work slowdown."
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James Martin, his son killed |
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Police chief Wayne Tucker |
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However, Tucker admitted the department has recently investigated more than 170 police (one of out of every four officers!), but only four were disciplined.
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Neighborhood activist Hannah James (l.) |
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Neighborhood activist Hannah James said, "It [the Settlement Agreement] has had a very dampening effect on officers being pro-active in the street."
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Half a Police Department
KTVU did not discuss the other major cause of underpolicing in Oakland, the fact that the City maintains only half a police department. An understaffed police force cannot get to crime scenes in time. Officers in an understaffed department see crime rising relentlessly, morale suffers, and some give up.
Furthermore, as Oakland activist Ellen Lynch wrote on an email list:
None of our efforts will get very far as long as we do not have the manpower. We do not have enough police! Anyone who lives here knows this! I have a hard time with the excuses for "arrests are down" coming from OPD top brass. Arrests are down because we do not have enough officers on the streets to make needed arrests, and citizens cannot get through on the OPD line half the time! Do folks know how often the line is busy? It is a total joke. I can't get through more than half the time. It takes being on hold for several minutes at least, and if you are on a cell phone, good luck.
Further official denial of the public safety crisis came from deputy police chief Jeff Israel. He wrote to Hannah James and others on an email list, "I am also interested to know what research or data you have that suggests high arrest numbers (whatever that is) reduces crime and what types of crime? In the early 90's OPD made more arrests than ever before. I remember making over 100 arrests in one year working District 4 on Third Watch-beat 24. Do you know that in spite of all those arrests we were still experiencing triple digit homicide rates?" Actually, broad statistics for armed robberies and all violent crimes are more informative than homicide rates, which do not always go up and down in step with crime in general. Furthermore, residents often no longer report an attack because they have learned that nothing will be done.
There can be too many arrests clogging the system with little additional result, or there can be too few and criminals see they have a free hand. The problem in Oakland is clearly the latter.
The sad conclusion is that City Hall does not care about public safety. The city council maintains only half a police department. There is a culture of tolerating boom cars, open street dealing, sideshows, wrecking of public events, and disruptive party houses. The city even gave one agency, Youth UpRising, a grant of $1.5 million while it promotes sideshow culture.
Almost every week, Oakland hears another horror story, such as when the disgruntled father of a teenage girl went to the Allendale Recreation Center and beat up the director of the center with a pipe wrench. Police could not respond in time. The next time you hear or read a similar report, ask why your councilmember does not put real commitment and resources into addressing the number one problem of this city, public safety.
* Thanks to a reader who corrected our previous review of the Riders history.
– Nov. 30, 2006; updated Dec. 3
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