Records indicate that Oakland’s arrest numbers in 2011 are down from three years earlier. This includes anything from minor offenses like drunk in public, to more severe arrests for drug busts and armed robbery.

Here is how it all breaks down: That is a 44% drop, or less than 6,410 fewer arrests, making it eighteen fewer arrests each day. And in a city that is reportedly to have a high crime rate within the state of California. This year, however, Oakland has seen a 23% increase in major crimes, such as muggings and murders.

The 2011 drop in crimes is so staggering that the Alameda County Superior Court has noted a decrease in the jail population and a backlog of cases. The Public Records Act current arrest numbers do question the efficiency and decisiveness of the Oakland Police Department. During this time, the police department is under pressure with cutting jobs, morale being low and the federal court demands.

The Chronicle reviewed numbers and found they were similar through July, 2012. The Alameda County stats show that Oakland police made 459 arrests in October and booked into the Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility. In 2008 those numbers were 1,233.

While these numbers are expected to drop a bit, due to manpower issues, law enforcement and criminology experts say the movement was somewhat troubling. The FBI reported that national arrest numbers were down by 11% during the same time frame.

The Police Chief of San Francisco, Tony Ribera, summed it up by reporting that there was no way you could arrest everybody. However, he goes on to say, if they were making decent arrests and taking the right case to prosecution, then it creates a mounting effect.  On the other hand, if people are committing crimes and do not feel as though there are any penalties, then most people will continue to commit crimes.

Sargent, Chris Bolton, states that arrests are a critical tool in fighting crime, but not the only answer. Bolton believes that a lot of arrests have fallen off due to department job cuts. Officers are now spending more time hurrying between emergency calls.

The police department currently has 626 officers. With downsizing and layoffs, that is a 25% decline from the amount recorded in December 2008, which were 837 officers. Compare that to San Francisco, having twice the population than Oakland and 20% less vicious crimes, has approximately 2,164 police officers.

When faced with staff reductions, the first ones to go were the squads who handled drugs, gangs and guns. Mayor Jean Quan mentions that she will work to get the department up to 800 police officers within the next five years. She hopes to enlist the help from outside agencies and various partnerships for both short and long-term solutions.

From 2008 to 2011, the drop in arrests revealed each category affected. There was a 42% drop in robbery, 43% in drunk driving, 44% in possession of weapons, 36% in the domestic abuse category, and the most significant decrease being in manufacturing and dealing drugs, falling 81%. In addition, records indicate that detectives are solving fewer homicides, which happens to be the police department’s top priority. In 2009, the homicide rate went from 50% down to 29% for 2010 and 2011. The FBI said the national homicide rate is at 65%.

Source:   Arrest totals down sharply in Oakland

Published 12/07/12