Suffer These Crimes in Oakland? Don't Call the Cops

[teko]

Updated 12:17 PM PDT, Tue, Jul 13, 2010

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Oakland's police chief is making some dire claims about what his force will and will not respond to if layoffs go as planned.

Chief Anthony Batts listed exactly 44 situations that his officers will no longer respond to and they include grand theft, burglary, car wrecks, identity theft and vandalism. He says if you live and Oakland and one of the above happens to you, you need to let police know on-line.

Some 80 officers were to be let go at midnight last night if a last-minute deal was not reached.  That's about ten percent of the work force.

"I came her e to build an organization, not downsize one," said Batts, who was given the top job in October.

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That deadline has been extended to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Here's a partial list:

    * burglary
    * theft
    * embezzlement
    * grand theft
    * grand theft:dog
    * identity theft
    * false information to peace officer
    * required to register as sex or arson offender
    * dump waste or offensive matter
    * discard appliance with lock
    * loud music
    * possess forged notes
    * pass fictitious check
    * obtain money by false voucher
    * fraudulent use of access cards
    * stolen license plate
    * embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
    * extortion
    * attempted extortion
    * false personification of other
    * injure telephone/ power line
    * interfere with power line
    * unauthorized cable tv connection
    * vandalism
    * administer/expose poison to another's

Negotiations are going on at Oakland City Hall in the mayor's office.

Batts said the 80 officers slated to be laid off - mostly new  officers - are "pretty sad and pretty depressed," and those feelings are  shared by the Police Department as a whole.

The Oakland City Council voted June 25 to eliminate the positions to help close the city's $32.5 million funding gap.  According to the city of Oakland, each of the 776 police officers currently employed at OPD costs around $188,000 per year. Most of the officers who will be affected by the layoffs were on the streets of Oakland when Johannes Mehserle's involuntary manslaughter conviction caused riots last Thursday.

The sticking point in negotiations appears to be job security. The city council asked OPD officers to pay nine percent of their salary toward their pensions, which would save the city about $7.8 million toward a multi-million dollar deficit. The police union agreed, as long as the city could promise no layoffs for three years. No dice, says city council president Jane Brunner.

"We wish we could offer them a three-year no layoff protection we just can't financially. It would be irresponsible of us," Brunner said. The city agreed to a one-year moratorium on layoffs, but it is not enough for the union.

The problem is money.  In the last five years, the police budget -- along with the fire department budget -- have amount to 75 percent of the general fund. After years of largely sparing those departments the budget ax, now it appears there are few other places to cut.

These are the last hours of negotiation and Brunner is hopeful that the city and police will find some sort middle ground.

"It's been very good conversation and not a whole lot of grandstanding." Brunner said. "There's actually real conversations. Each side understands the problem," she said.
First Published: Jul 12, 2010 1:27 PM PDT

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[flmagi]

Ya know, you're right, Teko!  Why do we really need the police, when everyone can defend themselves with our own arsenal?  Ye Haw ! Back to the wild, wild west!

[teko]

latest update.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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Popular Comment
"Does anyone want to work for Oakland PD? Sounds fun doesn't it "patrolling the gang infested streets of Oakland for peanuts" No thanks. People are CRAZY if they don't think these cops deserve to be will compensated for what they do. But I guess it's easy to sit back and lobbie for cuts to Officers, when you know that "YOU'RE" not the one out there putting "YOUR" life on the line."

-- hamner75
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80 Oakland cops laid off after no deal is reached
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By TERRY COLLINS
Associated Press Writer
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2010 - 8:20 am
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2010 - 10:30 pm

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Despite last-minute negotiations Tuesday, one of the nation's most crime-ridden cities had to lay off almost 10 percent of its police force.

Oakland city leaders and its police union failed to agree before a 5 p.m. deadline, leaving 80 officers without their badges. The dismissals leave the embattled department with 696 officers in a city of more than 400,000 residents.

The sticking point was over job security. The Oakland Police Officers Association said it would give concessions and contribute 9 percent of their salaries to their pensions only if the city guaranteed a three-year moratorium on layoffs.

The city, however, said it could only offer a one-year freeze.

"I think we're all disappointed that we couldn't come up with an agreement at this time. But we tried really hard," City Council president Jane Brunner said Tuesday, adding that talks could resume at a future date.

The layoffs are yet another blow for the police force still reeling from four officers being gunned down by a parolee last year.

"Losing four officers last year was a shock to us all, we haven't really recovered from that yet," Police union president Sgt. Dom Arotzarena said. "And now we're losing another 80 officers this year, not by the hand of a gun, but by the hand of a pen."

Last month, the council voted to cut nearly 10 percent of the city's 776 officers to help close a deficit of more than $31 million in the city's 2011 budget.

Police Chief Anthony Batts said many of the officers laid off were on the front lines last week, trying to control protesters after former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of an unarmed black man in 2009.

Earlier Tuesday, Batts was hesitant to say if the city and police union could strike a deal.

"Well, I don't want to scare anyone. We will continue to do a great job," Batts told KTVU-TV. "However, Oakland has a tremendous amount of demand here ... Oakland, compared to other cities of its size, has a lot more demand."

Gordon Dorham, one of the 80 officers laid off Tuesday, was more blunt. The officer of 2 1/2 years said one word describes how some Oakland residents now feel: "Fear."

"The citizens are scared," Dorham told KRON-TV. "They're scared and they know that the wolves are coming out."

On Monday, police released a list of crimes - including grand theft, burglary, vehicle collision, identity theft and vandalism - that officers would not respond to in person if there were layoffs.

Victims would have to report those and other crimes online.

Officers also would not be able to register sex offenders in person.

City leaders and police are hoping voters in November will approve new tax measures and amend an existing 2004 tax ordinance.

If the measures fail, police could lose another 122 officers in January.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/13/2887024/oakland-police-union-to-resume.html#ixzz0tf1XmqI6

[teko]

Well, my view is, why do they need the police anyway. The citizens can carry, so they can go back to the old times and police their own neighborhoods. I mean, isnt that what people want anyway? I say go for it.

[flmagi]

I believe in Capitalism.....I guess....to a certain extent...but what's wrong with this picture, when we're laying off Policemen, Firemen, Teachers  etc and the CEOs of big corps/banks are making more money than one family would ever really need?  It's just wrong.  I think anyone making over a million a year, should be heavily taxed, so that these policemen and our teachers & Firemen can keep their jobs and make a better salary.
Just my opinion.