Contact: Oakland Police Officers' Association

                                                                                                            Phone: (510) 834-9670 

                                                                                                            Email: policeofficers@opoa.org

May 17, 2021 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OAKLAND – Oakland’s violent crime rate has doubled in 2021. Murders, violence, assaults, and carjacking have all dramatically increased as the numbers of Oakland Police Officers continue to fall.

In a new series of paid advertisements, the OPOA called upon Oakland residents to speak up to the City Council to ensure their own safety. Oakland needs more Police Officers – not less – to address the violence.  

“Oakland’s Police Officers are working hard to stem the staggering increase in violence in our city, but our numbers are falling,” said Sgt. Barry Donelan, President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA). “The citizens of Oakland need to wake up city leaders to what is going on in the streets, which is bloodshed, violence, broken lives, and fear,” he said.

“Let your Council Member know that your personal safety, the safety of our community, and the security of the less fortunate, are dependent upon removing firearms from our streets, stopping violence, preventing theft, and stopping the wholesale destruction of our community,” the advertisement says.    

Click to Read the Advertisement.