Greetings,

Over the past weeks Oakland has welcomed several policing experts (most of whom are former Chiefs) to assist us in reducing crime. America's most successful urban Police Chief, Bill Bratton, was here last week (details here), along with a couple more former Chiefs who are also part of the Wasserman consulting team. They are implementing immediate strategies to tighten geographic accountability, strengthen community policing, manage dispatch, and improve crime data collection systems - changes praised in this New York Times article. 

Oakland also welcomed our court-appointed Compliance Officer, Thomas Frazier, who'll be helping us implement our remaining Constitutional policing reforms promised as a result of the Riders police misconduct case. Read the Trib's profile on him. 

Finally, on March 22nd Oakland's own Chief Police Chief Howard Jordan will congratulate the first class of 39 new officer graduates that Oakland has trained in more than 5 years. Now they'll enter 16 weeks of Field Training patrolling Oakland's streets paired with experienced field training officers. Our next Academy with 55 cadet recruits will start right away on March 25th. I couldn't be more excited to see more officers hitting our streets!

Chief Jordan also enjoyed a successful multi-agency gang-sweep last week - part of Oakland's Ceasefire strategy for reducing gang-related violence. Ceasefire is an evidence-based carrot and stick approach where gang members receive a clear message through "Call-in" meetings that services are available to help them get on a productive path, but that they must stop the violence or face consequences (background here).  You may recall that I met personally with Ceasefire's creator David Kennedy in New York last summer (details here). 

Last week, Ceasefire had a huge success as 14 collaborating law enforcement agencies assisted OPD in arresting more than 18 members of the Case Gang and Money Team on March 8th. With this special operation, roughly 60 members of Oakland's two most violent gangs have now been arrested under the Ceasefire coordinated effort (details here).  

At a "Call-in" last October, members of these gangs were offered support services and received the message that law enforcement would focus on them if they chose to continue committing violence in Oakland. Chief Jordan and the successful community collaboration he has built kept that promise. Hopefully other gang members will hear and believe Ceasefire's message more clearly now and make the better choice.

There's been some confusion (and even jokes) about the proliferation of police chiefs in Oakland. Indeed, I'd prefer to see more line-staff than chiefs myself. But each of these experts is focusing on distinct tasks. Each brings a unique skill-set and track-record that Oakland needs.

Real leaders harness the strength of collaboration to produce extraordinary results. Real leaders attract exceptional talent and proven performers to draw on their expertise. I commend Chief Jordan for doing just that.

With Oakland-love,

Libby

I attended last week's CompStat strategy session with former Chief Bill Bratton. 

Visit SafeOakland.com 

3/21 (Thur) North Hills Community Association Annual General Membership Meeting. Highlands Country Club, 110 Hiller Drive, 7:00 - 9:00p

3/22 (Fri) OPD Graduation of Class #166, Scottish Rite  - 1547 Lakeside Drive, 10:00 - noon 

3/24 (Sun) Montclair Office Hours, Montclair Farmers Market (or Colonial Donuts at 6126 La Salle Ave), 9:30 - 11:30a.