Crime

OPD Chief Armstrong Meets with Pres. Biden About Federal Funding for Police

The announcement comes as rising violence has plagued many U.S. cities during the pandemic, including Oakland and a tendency for violence to rise in the summer.

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2021

Christy Price

Oakland Police/Wikimedia Commons

Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong met virtually with U.S. President Joseph Biden for an announcement Wednesday about federal funding for violence reduction and violence intervention in the U.S.

The announcement comes as rising violence has plagued many U.S. cities during the pandemic, including Oakland and a tendency for violence to rise in the summer.

According to Biden’s office, homicides in large cities were up 30% year-over-year last year, and up 24% in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period a year ago.

Oakland has experienced 61 homicides this year alone, up about 90% compared to last year.

“I think it’s (the funding) a tremendous opportunity for the city of Oakland not only to increase its efforts to address gun violence in the city but also an effort to potentially increase police staffing as well as additional efforts for our violence intervention efforts,” Armstrong said to reporters after his meeting with the president.

“We feel like we are well-positioned as a department and as a city to compete for this funding,” Armstrong said.

He did not say how much money the department would seek.

Armstrong said the city’s Ceasefire strategy “covers all the aspects of the announcement today.”

Oakland’s Ceasefire strategy has been successful in the past at reducing gun violence in Oakland.

The strategy includes focused enforcement efforts, violence intervention, street outreach and using resources to address the re-entry of offenders into the community.

“We have a goal of reducing recidivism,” Armstrong said.

Biden on Wednesday addressed calls for defunding police departments, reportedly saying it’s not the time.

When asked about concerns residents might have about more police funding, Armstrong said, “Well, I think the message from the president is clear. I don’t think it’s time with the increase in violence that we’re seeing, even here in the city of Oakland.”

Sixty-one homicides this year “says we have a significant challenge in front of us,” Armstrong said. “It’s not the time to have less resources.”

Armstrong said he appreciates Biden “authorizing funding that will potentially increase resources because there is a great need.”

The demands for defunding police, Armstrong said, are centered around reform.

“I think people want to see better policing,” he said. “I think we’ve already begun to practice what I feel like is better and more constitutional policing in the city of Oakland.”

Christy Price

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

13 hours ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.