Crime

Public Forum: “To Protect and Serve, How to Fix America’s Police”

Published

7 years ago

July 28, 2017

Author Norm Stamper, Measure LL organizer Rashidah Grinage, police expert Deacon Reginald Lyles and host Lakeshore Baptist Church Pastor Jim Hopkins at July 26 public forum: “To Protect and Serve, How to Fix America’s Police.” Photo by Sue Taylor.

Norm Stamper, author and former police chief of Seattle, Wash., spoke to an audience in Oakland in a public forum Thursday night about police reform.

“It will not happen from within the department; keep up the pressure from the citizens,” was his main message of the night.

“Police belong to the people, not the other way around,” he said during a short opening presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The moderator was Reginald Lyles, former deputy for public safety and liaison to Oakland Police Department (OPD) for former Mayor Jean Quan. The event was held at Lakeshore Baptist Church in Oakland and was a Who’s Who of political activists, who gave a standing ovation to independent police commission Measure LL activist Rashidah Grinage.

Grinage’s long-time commitment to police reform precedes the negotiated settlement agreement – still not completed by OPD – and she’s currently on the selection panel for the new Police Commission. There were 125 applicants for seven commissioners and two alternates. The selection panel has narrowed the field to just over 20 candidates.

In opening remarks, Reginald Lyles said: “We are suffering from issues of police culture – often mean-spirited and deadly. This is low-grade terrorism.”

“There is a callousness of leadership in this town…actually an absence of leadership,” said Lyles.

There were no police or city representatives in attendance.

The purpose of the event was not only to present Stamper’s book but to give those attending a chance to ask questions, and hear ideas for changing police conduct in the United States. The rash of police murders in the U.S. were mentioned often, and Stamper’s general reply about police law-breaking was, “They should be fired.”

“There are police who believe, ‘We’re the cops and you’re not’,” said Stamper. “This cries out for partnerships between people and the police.”

When asked why he was attending, playwright and police officer Jinho “The Piper” Ferreira said, “I want to keep learning.” His play, “Cops and Robbers” was originally written for high school students and has had tremendous success at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco.

“We know ‘what’ is happening, but not ‘why’,” said Stamper. He explained that policing in the U.S. dates back to slave patrols and lynchings, and until the culture is changed, the current problems will continue. Stamper also made clear that change cannot come from within police departments.

“We need to end the ‘drug war,’ set national standards for policing, and make a commitment to authentic community policing,” he said.

Watch the Post newspapers for continuing articles on police reform. Norm Stamper’s book: “To Protect and Serve, How to Fix America’s Police,” is available online and at Walden Pond Books, 3316 Grand

CORRECTION: The article in the July 26 Oakland Post, “To Protect and Serve, How to Fix America’s Police, said that Rashidah Grinage is a member of the selection panel for the new police commission. That is incorrect. Also, there were 150 applicants for commission positions, now narrowed down to 28 finalists. The name of the church where the event was held omits the word “Avenue” – It is Lakeshore
Avenue Baptist Church.

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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

17 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.

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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

3 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.