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Oakland Knows the Difficulty of Police Reform

“We know something is wrong, when one side in the bargaining process eventually amasses such an imbalance of power that it seems to operate as an autonomous unit, almost independent of its employer,” said Henderson.

Published

4 years ago

May 26, 2021

Mia Lane

Photo Creds: Kyle Cleveland

On the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, one is tempted to consider a sense progress. Perhaps if you’re hopeful and optimistic. For the realists, any report card of progress would have to be a bit delusional.

Yes, within a year, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin– who placed his knee on the back of the neck of George Floyd long enough to cause asphyxiation–has been convicted on all three counts of murder.

As expected, it’s on appeal while he’s imprisoned. But Chauvin was not defended by his chief, let alone the ranks of those upholding police standards and training in the Minneapolis Police Dept. And that was a big deal. To me, it was the reason the perp, a cop, was convicted.

That’s a lot in one year.

But does it herald a sustainable difference in policing anywhere, let alone Minneapolis? Will it radiate justice, or is it just a one-off?

It can’t be a one-off if indeed #BLM. But that’s where we appear to be one year after George Floyd.

We are still taking baby steps towards the promised land.

If you don’t think so, consider the history of policing in Oakland in just the last 20 years.

Consider the notorious Riders case around the turn of the millennium, where some Oakland cops were accused of kidnapping, planting evidence, kicking down doors, searching without a warrant. And all against East and West Oakland residents who posed no threat to the arresting officers.

There was a class action lawsuit against the police that ended in the largest negotiated settlement agreement (NSA) in Oakland municipal history on March 14, 2003.

It called for the city to pay $10.9 million to the class members. And it included 31 reforms to be made by the department, included policies on use of force, racial profiling, and updating technology like wearing cam-recorders.

Simple, right? Obtainable within a year or two, of course….not.

To this day, Oakland has had a new chief every two years, and many of the NSA’s reforms have not been fulfilled.

One chief, brought in from the internal affairs division, looked like he would make a breakthrough, but in 2006, a sex scandal within the department involving a victim of sex-trafficking snared 12 officers.

The real scandal, however, was that chief’s failure to disclose the scandal to the court’s monitor. That was his undoing.

This accounting all comes from the honorable Thelton Henderson, the now retired federal judge who oversaw that NSA. In a lecture given this Spring at Berkeley Law School, Henderson expressed his frustration that the NSA he oversaw had been passed on to a new judge.

But the fact that we are now 18 years trying to bring about police reform, show how near impossible it is.

“Herculean,” said Henderson. He believes it’s because policing has taken the “war on crime” idea literally, turning police into “soldiers, or an occupying force with battle armor and tanks and assault weapons ready to do battle with the communities they have vowed to protect and serve.”

Add to that the labor unions, who constantly remind the public of the dangerousness of the job.

But no one understands the danger the unions play in public safety.

This is from the judge who oversaw the negotiated settlement in the Riders case. Henderson’s indicating the real power that unions have to put the needs of the police above the city and its people.

The police unions have taken collective bargaining to the point where they harm our democratic society.

You see why to assess where we are one year after George Floyd is way too soon.

Police reform? America is hamstrung by labor policy.

Without labor reform we’ll be inching along toward the policing we deserve.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. Twitter @emilamok; Watch his vlog on Facebook @emilguillermo.media ; Or on www.amok.com

Mia Lane

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org