Oakland Needs Smart Public Safety

Oakland City Council & Mayor Barbara Lee

Oakland cannot balance our budget without serious evaluation of the OPD budget. The public has a right to understand why overspending on key provisions that do not support public safety is allowed. The city council members and Mayor Lee must address the elephant in the room. We cannot afford more cozy back-room deals with the police union. The OPD budget is too big to pretend it's not a problem. Oakland needs public safety that is efficient and effective.

To: Oakland City Council & Mayor Barbara Lee
From: [Your Name]

Oakland Needs Smart Public Safety and Transparent Fiscal Responsibility, including:

1. Manage OPD Overtime. It’s killing our budget and it is not being used to police our streets! We must have a system for tracking and managing excessive overtime much of which is a slush fund for senior officers.

2. Put Civilians in Jobs that Don’t Require Police Officers. It’s much cheaper and more efficient. This is how we get more officers out on the street!

3. Demand GPS activated in all patrol cars NOW! OPOA has delayed implementation of GPS in patrol cars for years. GPS will improve response time to 911 calls, and assign officers where they are needed, also increase officer safety. We know where the city gardener’s truck is but not the patrol cars?

4. Bring Back Community Policing. Neighbors want to see officers on the beat, preventing crime before it happens.

5. Make Changes to the Police Union Contract being negotiated right now! City Council must consult with the community - no more cozy back-room deals!
*Close loopholes on overtime
*Put GPS in OPD vehicles
*Control comp time accruals, like the other city employees

6. Fund independent community-led police oversight. Corruption weakens public safety and costs money. Oakland used to pay out millions in lawsuits. We must protect our budget, our residents, and our independent police commission.

https://tinyurl.com/SmarterPublicSafetyReport
https://tinyurl.com/CityAuditor911Report
https://tinyurl.com/CPArecommentations4OPOA