Oaklanders asked to weigh in on OPD strategic plan
February 26, 2010 by V Smoothe · 60 Comments
You have probably read by now at least something about the Oakland Police Department’s new stategic plan framework (PDF). The Chief’s ambitious goal of making Oakland one of California’s safest cities within five years is obviously exciting, as are the specific emphases on improved police/community relations and departmental support for officers.
Whether it’s doable or not of course remains to be seen. However, the Chief’s record in Long Beach, both in terms of reducing crime and also restoring community trust of the Police Department, makes me optimistic.
New plan, Old concept
Of course, it isn’t like the concept of strategic planning is new to OPD. There have been frequent stabs at creating such plans even just in recent years. There’s this one from 2007 (PDF), for example. And of course there was the ongoing Crime Fighting Strategic Plan (PDF) efforts discussed repeatedly at Council (PDF) meetings during 2008. These discussions were probably most memorably summed up in a presentation to the Public Safety Committee, where Committee members were told that the bottom line is “We can’t arrest our way out of the problem.”
Consistent with that statement, the Crime Fighting Strategic Plan (PDF) documents and presentations generally characterized the Department as practically helpless with respect to crime reduction, taking the general position that the Police Department, no matter what they do, can have at most a limited impact on Oakland’s crime rate.
There are a number of factors that contribute to changes in crime: socioeconomic conditions, community involvement, and the school system are three significant factors. While the Police Department’s impact is important, it is limited.
and
While there are strategies that provide a toolbox approach to specific types of crimes, there are no “national best practices” for crime reduction. Oakland in comparison to cities of like size has both common and unique crime problems.
Another common thread in the discussions was essentially that crime in Oakland isn’t actually that bad, and that perception is worse than reality. Perhaps in some neighborhoods that’s the case, but of course many people would like to think that all of Oakland’s residents deserve safety.
A noticeably new approach
The new Strategic Plan framework (PDF) and presentation (PDF) unveiled by Chief Batts last week represent a sharp (and welcome!) departure from that attitude. Both the Chief’s letter introducing the framework (PDF) and the introductory charts in the presentation (PDF) (see pages 6-17) make no bones about the fact that the level of crime in Oakland is beyond unacceptable and the Department’s current response to reported crimes is deplorable. Here’s an excerpt from the letter:
As with any plan, it is important to define the current reality or starting point as well as the destination. Unfortunately, the current reality is not very positive. Oakland is not a safe community – in fact it is among the least safe and most violent in the US. Services provided to the Community by the Police Department are nowhere near the standards that should be expected. Many good people in the Community do not trust the Police Department and live in fear of the police as well as of criminals.
How refreshing! What’s that thing they say about problems? You can’t solve one until you acknowledge that it exists or something like that? Yeah. So just the recognition that the status quo is not acceptable represents a huge step forward.
Basics of the new strategic plan framework
The framework lists five strategic goals, along with a set of actions related to achieving each of them. I won’t copy it all out here, since the document (PDF) is basically just a set of short, bulleted lists and if people are interested in reading the whole thing they should just go ahead and download it. It is a very fast read, since, like I said, it’s basically just an outline. The goals that frame the plan are:
- Focus on the underlying causes of violent crime in Oakland – Gangs, Drugs, and Guns
- Improve police services provided based on the Community’s priorities
- Improve the relationship between the Oakland Police Department and the Community
- Develop and implement a “Total Community Policing” model in Oakland
- Expand the capability of the Oakland Police Department to meet its Mission
OPD seeks community input
Perhaps most refreshing of all is the Chief’s serious effort to work with Oakland residents in crafting the plan, which is supposed to be ready in a final version this summer. Over the next two weeks, there will be a series of community meetings to solicit feedback on the framework. People should go!
Here’s the schedule:
- Wednesday, March 3: Montera Middle School, 555 Ascot Drive. 6:30 to 8:00 PM
- Thursday, March 4: East Oakland Senior Center, 9255 Edes Avenue. 6:30 to 8:00 PM
- Wednesday, March 10: Willie Key Recreation Center, 3131 Union Street. 6:30 to 8:00 PM
- Thursday, March 11: Manzanita Recreation Center, 2701 22nd Avenue. 6:30 to 8:00 PM
If you can’t, or for some reason don’t want to, make it to any of the meetings, you can still share your thoughts. The Police Department has put up an online survey to collect feedback from residents. Questions are basically all open-ended, asking residents to share their own ideas for reducing violent crime, improving OPD services, and improving the level of trust between the Department and the community. Additionally, residents interested in participating in implementation working groups are invited to leave their contact information and areas of interest. It’s so refreshing to see the Police Department reaching out to citizens like this.
BTW, the Library wants your input too!
Oh, and one more thing. As long as we’re on the topic of City surveys, the Oakland Public Library is also currently soliciting patron input. As you guys may remember, all OPL branch libraries were reduced from six day per week to five day per week service in August as part of the City Council’s budget decision. The library is now evaluating the new branch schedule and is looking for patron thoughts on Monday vs. Saturday service, morning vs. evening hours, and for patrons with children, the most convenient periods for storytime. Also, there are open ended questions where you can offer general feedback. The survey ends after this weekend, so please, if you are a library user, take a few moments to fill it out. You can find the survey here: http://surveymonkey.com/oplpatronsurvey.
Oakland Crime Stats, November 2009
November 16, 2009 by V Smoothe · 114 Comments
2009 is quickly coming to a close, and if things keep going the way they have been, it looks like we’re going to end the year with a substantially lower number of reported crimes than last year.
What do you want to ask Chief Batts?
November 6, 2009 by V Smoothe · 89 Comments
Monday night, I attended the Town Hall meeting with Oakland’s new Police Chief, Anthony Batts, at Prescott Elementary in West Oakland. It was okay.
Oakland Crime Stats Update, October edition
October 14, 2009 by V Smoothe · 67 Comments
It’s that time again. Our always exciting monthly check-in on Oakland crime stats.
Oakland gets 41 officers from CHRP
July 28, 2009 by V Smoothe · 70 Comments
Well, the news isn’t good (although no worse than we’d expected lately). But at least the suspense is over. The COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) awards were announced today, and Oakland is getting funding for 41 officers (PDF).
More budget cuts coming on Tuesday
July 25, 2009 by V Smoothe · 159 Comments
This Tuesday, less than a month after we passed our 2009-11 budget, the Oakland City Council will be back in Chambers (except for Nancy Nadel, who will be teleconferencing in from Jamaica) doing it all over again , looking to make nearly $19 million in new cuts. Fun!
Budget decision coming on Tuesday
June 28, 2009 by V Smoothe · 25 Comments
After like two months of discussion, the Oakland City Council will finally pass a budget on Tuesday. Last week, Councilmembers Brunner, De La Fuente, Kernighan, and Quan submitted a revised version of their proposed changes to the Mayor’s budget (PDF), which you can read in its entirety here (PDF). Here are the highlights, and I’ve noted the places where this proposal differs from what was discussed on the 16th:
Civilianizing Internal Affairs
June 25, 2009 by V Smoothe · 6 Comments
Alas, I really wanted to have a long post for you guys today about the ongoing efforts to civilianize the citizen complaints aspects of the Oakland Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, but it just didn’t happen. The unfortunate combination of AT&T’s lackluster customer service and my bad temper has rendered me without home internet access for the moment, which makes blogging…well…kind of difficult.
Chill out. Nobody is actually planning on laying off 140 cops, folks.
May 6, 2009 by V Smoothe · 47 Comments
Sigh. Media reports of a possible layoff of 140 police officers have the whole damn town in a tizzy. Relax, folks. Nobody is getting rid of a quarter of our police force, no matter what you’ve read. Here’s the story.
Max Allstadt: A Routine Traffic Stop
April 9, 2009 by Max Allstadt · 28 Comments
Last friday morning, I was driving home from my girlfriend’s house when I realized I’d left my computer behind. I was already running late, and the whole reason I was headed home was to print out some fairly important stuff, so I got frustrated, did a U-turn and hastily headed north on MLK.
Honoring Oakland’s fallen officers
March 23, 2009 by V Smoothe · 22 Comments
I struggled mightily last night trying to decide what to write about today. I remain dumbstruck over the tragic events of Saturday afternoon. Read more
Senseless, tragic killing of Oakland police officers this afternoon
March 21, 2009 by V Smoothe · 56 Comments
The number of Oakland Police officers killed in in the line of duty during the department’s history rose today from 47 to 50 (Update: Now 51). The news is shocking and tragic.
