City Government

City Needs to Recruit More Oakland Residents as Police Officers, Says Kaplan

Published

10 years ago

September 3, 2014

Mayoral candidate and City Council President Pro-Tem Rebecca Kaplan today announced a proposal to require the city to hire more Oakland residents to work as officers at the Oakland Police Department.

“I’m calling for us to practice what we preach,” Kaplan said, speaking at a press conference Wednesday.

According to a report released from City Administrator officials, only 8 percent of sworn police officers are Oakland residents. According to Kaplan, the composition of the Oakland police force does not reflect numbers of Oakland resident who apply to join Oakland’s police force.

“There’s a mistaken belief that residents aren’t applying,” Kaplan said. Over1, 400 applications from Oakland residents were received for the past five police academies.

Though many applicants passed the written, physical, and oral evaluations, she said, only 32 Oakland residents were invited to join, according to police department data.

Furthermore, Kaplan says she has been told stories by residents who say they were rejected because of a low credit score or for past marijuana use, “which isn’t even an offense in Oakland.”

She says low credit disparities will exist in communities of color when check-cashing businesses are more accessible than banks. In addition, she said, white people are estimated to use marijuana as frequently as do people of color. But whites are less likely to have a record for marijuana use, she said.

If the council adopts a “formal policy similar to what [Oakland] has put on businesses contracted with the city,” she said, there would have to be more discussion as to why the 50 percent local hire isn’t being met.

Hiring residents of Oakland as officer has many benefits, she said. “Being knowledgeable of their city makes them more effective.”

Kaplan’s proposal is scheduled to go before the City Council’s Rules Committee on Sept. 18.

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Related Topics:City of Oakland Hire Oakland local hire policy Oakland Oakland Police Department Oakland residents OPD rebecca kaplan

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Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

Published

4 days ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

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Barbara Lee Launches Campaign for Mayor of Oakland

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided, but a community united,” she Lee. “If elected I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city, so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

Published

6 days ago

January 8, 2025

Oakland Post

By Post Staff

Barbara Lee on Wednesday morning formally announced her candidacy for Mayor in Oakland’s April 15 special election.

“Time and time again, Oaklanders have faced our toughest obstacles by uniting to meet our challenges,” said Lee.

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided but a community united,” she said. “If elected, I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas, and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

“As Mayor, I’ll address our homelessness crisis, prioritize comprehensive public safety and mental health services, and lead with fiscal responsibility to deliver the core City services residents and business owners deserve. Let’s do this – together.”

“I’ve never shied away from a challenge,” said Lee. “I’m always ready to fight for Oakland.”

Watch her campaign video here, which is online at BarbaraLee4Oakland.com

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Who Wants to Be the Next Elected Mayor of Oakland?

The Oakland Post is issuing a CALL to all candidates to present their answers, plans, or solutions in response to our list of questions.

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2025

Oakland Post

An aerial view of the downtown Oakland skyline on a clear sunny day. The federal building and other iconic buildings fill the skyline. Photo: iStock.

By Paul Cobb

Many of you probably recall the oft-repeated expression when describing leadership that “many are called but few are chosen.” We will be inundated during January with many claims of qualifications by those who want to lead Oakland.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, we have heard the names of 14 potential candidates who might become Oakland’s next Mayor.

The Oakland Post is issuing a CALL to all candidates to present their answers, plans, or solutions in response to our list of questions.

Any candidate who wishes to receive a free announcement, publicity or space in the paper must submit solutions.

The first questions we propose are 1) What is your budget balancing plan?
What is your position on requiring all city employees to work full-time in their designated offices rather than remotely from their homes?
What is your plan to provide open-access opportunities to all police officers for overtime pay?
Since many businesses, especially downtown, have closed, what is your plan to attract and increase revenues?

Please send your submissions of 300 words or less to each question to Social@postnewsgroup.com or visit www.postnewsgroup.com