Oakland city officials and police said there has been a 33% drop in homicides in Oakland, and zero homicides in the city in October.
Mayor Sheng Thao, Assistant Police Chief James Beere and others announced what they described as a drop in homicides at a news conference outside St. Columba Catholic Church Friday.
“That means … 33% less families that have to endure the grief,” Thao said at the news conference, a portion of which she posted on social media.
Crime has been a major issue in Oakland and figures into a recall effort targeting Thao, who could be voted out of office Tuesday.
“We haven’t had a single homicide in October,” Beere said.
“Of course, we’re here today touting the data,” Department of Violence Prevention Chief Holly Joshi said. “But the data by no means, and the reduction by no means is a victory flag for the city of Oakland. What it does represent is a datapoint that tells us that we are on the right track.”
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