Oakland also still has the #1 violent crime rate in California — and the lowest reported rate of solved crimes of any major city in the nation, according to newly released FBI crime data.
Another great report by OR. Clearly OPD assigns priorities to certain crimes, hence the abysmal recovery rate for stolen cars. Staffing continues to be OPD’s Achilles heel, but closely flowing is OPD’s use of technology as a force multiplier. There are many tools available to enhance OPD’s abilities to police but due to budget, or more likely anti-police rhetoric, OPD is unable to institute these tools. Recently Oakland’s rogue Privacy Advisory Commission has been a blocking entity. That being said there’s a balance to policing and privacy rights and one must not look far to SF’s successes with the implementation of technology and ‘real time’ crime centers. If Oakland truly wants economic recovery its political leaders MUST evaluate and implement technologies that make Oakland not only safer but more economically viable. I have my doubts our current elected leadership has the political courage to do what is simply right for OPD and the citizens of our beloved city.
You are right, our cars are not a priority for OPD but when the mayor's SUV was stolen, they put a lot of resources and recovered the vehicle. Only if OPD did the same for residents and small businesses...
New Orleans didn't report to the FBI? So maybe Oakland is just... Number 2...?
Perceptions are as important as reality. When one sees violent lawlessness and street-level dysfunction, and one knows that calling 911 will get you a 4-minute hold time, a negative judgment is rendered that is very hard to reverse. The ingredients for a great city are all there, but the recipe needs adjustment, and the kitchen lacks a good cook.
and a reminder, Oakland has the distinction of being the only city where an In-N-Out restaurant has closed because of crime, even though it was profitable.
One reason why residents do not bother reporting crime is because of OPD's lack of response, even when the reported situation is serious and dangerous.
A terrible and extremely disturbing example of this is the 'Fear Thy Neighbor' episode of Netflix's 'Worst Neighbor Ever' series.
I hate to say this but residents and small businesses are on their own for most cases.
Thanks Sean for another great report. As you point out, it is good Oakland has made some progress, but we are still at the bottom, and that is a leadership and ideological problem. I do agree with what ajcohen commented as to the needs of the OPD and the problems of the Privacy Advisory Commission. and I would add our oversight of Oakland's police commission, as well as some of city ordinances. I would add that we need a vision to rebuild Oakland and to give a real education to our youth. Our youth need a mission in life and to see they can contribute to the building of our community. Another important tool we need in our tool box is TREATMENT FIRST FOR DRUGS and MENTAL HEALTH. This is an importent tool to stop crime and to grow our Oakland. Mindy Pechenuk, for Oakland Mayor 2026
It seems obvious that if "Oaklanders continued to experience a reported 90% chance that a violent crime would go unsolved" and if Oakland's are aware and not oblivious to their surroundings, then why would they take the time and the trouble to report crimes other than the most violent? Has anyone bothered to poll residents whether they have experienced crime and whether they reported it and, if not, why?
There are cases when OPD has not responded to serious situations. I've commented here of the 'Fear Thy Neighbor' episode of Netflix's 'Worst Neighbor Ever' series. This story is extremely disturbing and unsettling but it shows the state of crime and public safety in Oakland.
Every time my Oakland neighborhood tries to do something—anything—about crime, we immediately become paralyzed by a vocal faction that disputes whether crime is really as bad as the data shows, suggesting that the problem is really just one of misperception. This faction then insists that any proposed action will disproportionally hurt “disadvantaged” or “minority” residents and therefore must be rejected.
Unsurprisingly, nothing ever changes. It appears that Oakland is getting precisely the sort of law enforcement it wants.
Another great report by OR. Clearly OPD assigns priorities to certain crimes, hence the abysmal recovery rate for stolen cars. Staffing continues to be OPD’s Achilles heel, but closely flowing is OPD’s use of technology as a force multiplier. There are many tools available to enhance OPD’s abilities to police but due to budget, or more likely anti-police rhetoric, OPD is unable to institute these tools. Recently Oakland’s rogue Privacy Advisory Commission has been a blocking entity. That being said there’s a balance to policing and privacy rights and one must not look far to SF’s successes with the implementation of technology and ‘real time’ crime centers. If Oakland truly wants economic recovery its political leaders MUST evaluate and implement technologies that make Oakland not only safer but more economically viable. I have my doubts our current elected leadership has the political courage to do what is simply right for OPD and the citizens of our beloved city.
You are right, our cars are not a priority for OPD but when the mayor's SUV was stolen, they put a lot of resources and recovered the vehicle. Only if OPD did the same for residents and small businesses...
New Orleans didn't report to the FBI? So maybe Oakland is just... Number 2...?
Perceptions are as important as reality. When one sees violent lawlessness and street-level dysfunction, and one knows that calling 911 will get you a 4-minute hold time, a negative judgment is rendered that is very hard to reverse. The ingredients for a great city are all there, but the recipe needs adjustment, and the kitchen lacks a good cook.
and a reminder, Oakland has the distinction of being the only city where an In-N-Out restaurant has closed because of crime, even though it was profitable.
One reason why residents do not bother reporting crime is because of OPD's lack of response, even when the reported situation is serious and dangerous.
A terrible and extremely disturbing example of this is the 'Fear Thy Neighbor' episode of Netflix's 'Worst Neighbor Ever' series.
I hate to say this but residents and small businesses are on their own for most cases.
Thanks Sean for another great report. As you point out, it is good Oakland has made some progress, but we are still at the bottom, and that is a leadership and ideological problem. I do agree with what ajcohen commented as to the needs of the OPD and the problems of the Privacy Advisory Commission. and I would add our oversight of Oakland's police commission, as well as some of city ordinances. I would add that we need a vision to rebuild Oakland and to give a real education to our youth. Our youth need a mission in life and to see they can contribute to the building of our community. Another important tool we need in our tool box is TREATMENT FIRST FOR DRUGS and MENTAL HEALTH. This is an importent tool to stop crime and to grow our Oakland. Mindy Pechenuk, for Oakland Mayor 2026
It seems obvious that if "Oaklanders continued to experience a reported 90% chance that a violent crime would go unsolved" and if Oakland's are aware and not oblivious to their surroundings, then why would they take the time and the trouble to report crimes other than the most violent? Has anyone bothered to poll residents whether they have experienced crime and whether they reported it and, if not, why?
There are cases when OPD has not responded to serious situations. I've commented here of the 'Fear Thy Neighbor' episode of Netflix's 'Worst Neighbor Ever' series. This story is extremely disturbing and unsettling but it shows the state of crime and public safety in Oakland.
Every time my Oakland neighborhood tries to do something—anything—about crime, we immediately become paralyzed by a vocal faction that disputes whether crime is really as bad as the data shows, suggesting that the problem is really just one of misperception. This faction then insists that any proposed action will disproportionally hurt “disadvantaged” or “minority” residents and therefore must be rejected.
Unsurprisingly, nothing ever changes. It appears that Oakland is getting precisely the sort of law enforcement it wants.