Oakland City Council to pass thru $279k for 8 OPD paddy wagons

City of Oakland Public Safety Committee

agenda: https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=438185&GUID=5EC7C74D-A012-4FB7-A475-C2CC5619F498

Item 4 includes funds for 8 vans to “provide officers with the ability to respond to large crowd events, such as protests.” Civil disobedience and crowd intimidation at sporting events are OPD’s main roles. And their staff has stated as such. If a professional sporting event is occurring and there is a demonstration, OPD has to move “forces” around within the city as necessary depending on their intelligence from helicopters, on-the-ground officers and telecommunication interceptions.

Aside from the aforementioned item, this large grant from the federales also includes funds for crime lab microscopes that are to be enhanced with city funds to provide $300,000 in hardware and almost $800,000 in wages to specialists. Equipment and specialists that should have been there for years. At roughly $200k in wages and benefits per officer, OPD already has some of the most expensive police in the state. Officers who don’t even live in the city they repress and who are directed to address issues that can be ticketed or charged without involving much or any investigation. Real investigation has been lessened for decades. Poorer people can be caught and charged with other issues much quicker. It is doubtful these purchases will change that policy though it will allow the OPD to meet state and federal requirements for receiving further grants for further goodies.

4. Subject: Appropriate Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds
From: Oakland Police Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator, Or Designee, To Accept And Appropriate The Fiscal Year 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Funds In The Amount Of Five Hundred Fifty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Eighty-Nine Dollars ($556,789) For October 1, 2014 Through September 30, 2018
Report: https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4074508&GUID=E71E980C-3ADC-4C21-A97A-7E4FBA6756CD

from the ... ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
... OPD will use funding from the JAG allocations to purchase equipment, software and vehicles to strengthen and enhance law enforcement efforts throughout the City of Oakland. OPD will rely heavily on technology and specialized equipment in order to make efficient and effective use of law enforcement resources. A portion of the JAG funds ($146,716) will be used to install and implement a property and evidence barcode system and a video camera system for the Bureau of Investigations. OPD will also utilize funds ($4,380) to purchase a dispatch training simulator to assist with training newly hired dispatchers and operators. Funds ($20,000) will be used to upgrade software for the Communications Division and Crime Analysis Section. OPD will also use a portion of the funds ($77,855) to purchase specialized microscopes for the Crime Laboratory to ensure staff has access to the latest tools in order to reduce processing times and potential errors. The remaining funds ($278,998) will be used to purchase eight vans to provide officers with the ability to respond to large crowd events, such as protests. OPD is currently required to rent vans in order to respond to protests. This is a very costly practice and it does not allow immediate response to spontaneous events.



8. Subject: $1M Gun Tracing Allocation In FY 2015-2016 Budget
From: Oakland Police Department
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report Regarding The Oakland Police Department (OPD ) Spending Plan For Gun Tracing Efforts Funded In The FY 2015-2016 Adopted Policy Budget
Report: https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4074914&GUID=78B3E98F-AD79-4AFD-AE25-728359E06B0A

from the ...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The FY 2015-2017 Adopted Policy Budget allocates one million dollars ($1M) over two years for "Special Investigations to reduce gun violence & illegal gun dealing." To support special investigations that reduce gun violence and illegal gun dealing, OPD will fund personnel and technology that support this effort. OPD's current data entry process for gun tracing is cumbersome and OPD does not have staff to analyze data and develop useful intelligence. The OPD crime lab needs technology improvements to more effectively manage ballistics processes. OPD plans to utilize the $1M gun tracing allocation in the FY 2015-2017 budget to fund (see Fiscal Impact, p.4):
• Personnel (police records specialist and two crime analysts, and overtime dedicated to supporting gun tracing efforts) - $778,411.30
• Technology (three gun microscope cameras, a gun laser scanner and other technology to support gun database entry and automation) - $221,174.83


Either appear in person or contact the four council members who are on this committee and say NO to accepting further funds from the federales for repression. Say NO to tech equipment that will not be used until there are changes in policy.
DKalb [at] oaklandnet.com; AGuillen [at] oaklandnet.com; NGallo [at] oaklandnet.com; DBrooks [at] oaklandnet.com