This article has been updated to include information about police patrols on Piedmont Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue.
In a press conference at Jack London Square on Tuesday, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Acting Police Chief Darren Allison said that starting next week, foot patrols (“walking officers”) would return to some Oakland neighborhoods including West Oakland, Montclair, Rockridge, Chinatown, Little Saigon, Fruitvale, and Downtown.
On Wednesday, police department spokesperson Officer Kim Armstead confirmed by email that Piedmont Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue are also included in the initial rollout.
(See KTVU video of the conference HERE.)
“We are committed to a safer Oakland for every person who lives, works and visits our Town,” said Mayor Sheng Thao in a press release. “Public safety is a top priority of my Administration and my office is working closely with the Oakland Police Department, community organizations and our business partners to implement solutions that will prevent crime.”
“As we continue to see communities gathering and enjoying our neighborhood shopping and entertainment districts, we are maintaining our efforts to provide safety to our residents, visitors and business community,” said Acting Chief Allison. “Starting next week, you will see a return of our walking officers to our business and neighborhood shopping districts. Through our walking officers, we will collaborate with our Business District ambassadors as well as provide security assessments to our businesses using crime prevention through environmental design.”
“We all know that the success of Oakland depends on safety. And we are committed to working together on the innovative steps needed to make Our Town as safe as possible,” said Ken Maxey, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “We are One Oakland and we want Oakland to be safer in every neighborhood and for every family.”
Among the other initiatives the Oakland Police Department said it would undertake:
- Continuing patrols in Chinatown
- Continuing “Trust Building Liaisons” in East Oakland, Fruitvale, Little Saigon and Chinatown
- Deploying traffic units, focused on reducing fatal collisions
- Working with Business Improvement Districts (BID) Ambassadors on use of technology to deter and solve crime
- Collaborating with other agencies including the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to focus on the corridor around the airport at 98th Avenue and Hegenberger Rd
- Preventing crime through environmental design
“While our public safety officers are instrumental in this effort, we all know a safer Oakland is going to involve participation from our violence prevention organizations, community leaders, regional partners and other city departments in our Town.,” said Mayor Thao. “My Administration will continue to work proactively across agencies to make sure we’re responsive to community needs, work to address the causes of crime and support victims when crime occurs. We are One Oakland and we’re standing together for a safer city.”