Thursday Oakland’s civilian Police Commission unanimously recommended that Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick be terminated and Mayor Libby Schaaf approved.

Read more in the SF Chronicle: Oakland Police Commission fires Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.

Voter-passed 2016 Measure LL allows 5 members of the volunteer police oversight commission to dismiss the police chief with the consent of the mayor. Kirkpatrick had been police chief for 3 years, being hired in 2017 in the wake of a scandal where dozens of cops were accused of having sexual relations with an under-aged prostitute. Since Kirkpatrick is being discharged “without good cause” she is entitled to a severance package valued at close to $300,000.

Mayor Schaaf said that it was her duty as mayor to recognize the role and authority of the Police Commission and also recognize when the trust between the commission and the police chief has become irrevocably broken. Police Commission Chairperson Regina Jackson says the new chief should redress the OPD’s excessive use of force against community members, and move the force towards compliance with the with the consent decree and court-ordered monitoring imposed after the 2003 Riders Scandal. The commission is demanding a more diverse and respectful OPD that becomes a model of Constitutional policing and justice. Rashidah Grinage and members of the Coalition for Police Accountability have been calling for Kirkpatrick to be terminated for almost a year. Grinage thanked the commission for its action.

Wednesday, January 1st, 2020, noon–5pm
Fruitvale BART station

East Bay Citizen / Steven Tavares / January 16, 2019

The Hayward City Council chambers erupted in chants of “Shut it down!” and “What are you hiding?!” after the family of Agustin Gonsalez, the 29-year-old father of two killed by Hayward police officer was again denied answers following the shooting last November on O’Neill Avenue.

Gonsalez family members and supporters delivered several public comments during a Hayward council meeting last month demanding for information from police. The family said Gonsalez struggled with a mental illness, but had held a full-time job (…) Some family members demanded police body-cam video of the incident, in addition, to an independent investigation. “This is a story that cries out trigger-happy police,” said Frank Runninghorse, a member of the Oscar Grant Committee. “The police can not investigate themselves. It’s like the fox guarding the hen house.”

Read the full article on EBCITIZEN.COM

Community Town Hall
Thursday, October 3, 7:00 PM program
First Congregational Church, 2601 Harrison St, Oakland

Many communities are concerned about police departments’ acquisition and deployment of military-grade equipment in events ranging from public protests to parades and service of drug warrants. In Oakland, the use of grenade-like projectiles, armored vehicles, and military-grade assault weapons by OPD officers has resulted in harm to residents, controversy, and costly lawsuits. In March 2018, Oakland police used the tank-like BearCat armored vehicle as a shooting platform and AR-15 rifles in the killing of Joshua Pawlik.

Oakland PD uses force disproportionately against black residents. And several studies conclude that police departments that acquire military-grade equipment are more likely to use violence and are no more successful in reducing crime.

Yet Oakland has no policy for the acquisition or use of militarized equipment. Oakland PD can acquire and use military equipment of all kinds – anywhere, at any time, with no policy for its use or public reporting of what is has or how it is used. Now Oakland has an opportunity to exercise community control over the militarization of policing in Oakland, by adopting an ordinance that will require approval by the City Council for the acquisition of military equipment, and use policies and reporting for military equipment that OPD has or obtains.

The proposed ordinance will require that the civilian Oakland Police Commission review proposed acquisitions and use policies for armored vehicles, assault weapons, weaponized aircraft, battering rams, sonic weapons, and flashbang grenades. This will apply to equipment that OPD acquires with grants or with purchases from the city budget. The proposal is modeled on Oakland’s surveillance equipment ordinance.

Supporting organizations (list in formation):
ACLU; American Friends Service Committee; Anti Police Terror Project; Coalition for Police Accountability; Human Impact Partners; Oakland Privacy; Oscar Grant Committee; Restore Oakland; Secure Justice; 67 Sueños; Urban Peace Movement; Urban Strategies; and is being considered by others.

Contact: John Lindsay-Poland
American Friends Service Committee
510-282-8983
jlindsay-poland@afsc.organizations