Community Speak Out

PUEBLO sponsored a lively "speak out" at Frick Middle School Saturday, March 4th. On hand were Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker, Citizens' Police Review Board Director Joyce Hicks and her staff -- Patrick Caceres, Audrey Montana and Sean Quinlan. In addition, noted civil rights attorney John Burris attended and talked about the Riders' class action Negotiated Settlement and its proposed reforms. Also in attendance was District 6 Council member Desley Brooks who received a rousing reception from the community members presented when she declared that the Chief's plan to re-deploy officers to the streets had been thwarted by the political agendas of Mayor Jerry Brown and Council President Ignacio de la Fuente. She asserted that a plan developed by Chief Tucker would add a considerable number of additional officers to the streets when they are most needed, without the hiring of additional officers, but that due to the political ambitions of Brown and de la Fuente, both of whom were counting on support for their campaigns from the Oakland Police Officers' Association, the plan had not been implemented.

Some members of the community talked about incidents with police that they felt were badly handled. The Chief promised to meet with these folks and follow up on their cases. Other residents complained about the poor response time when they call 911. John Burris refuted the notion that the Negotiated Settlement and its mandated reforms and deadlines are responsible for the woes of the OPD in meeting the demands of public safety on the streets.

Created: 03-05-2006