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Community Policing in Oakland: Progress Under Measure Y
In response to rising crime and violence, Oakland voters passed the Violence Prevention and Public Safety Act of 2004, more commonly referred to as Measure Y. With a nearly $20 million annual investment, Measure Y is a 10-year initiative designed to facilitate community policing, foster violence prevention, and improve fire and paramedic service. The legislation set aside funding for an independent evaluation of the progress being made toward reaching these goals, and RAND and Berkeley Policy Associates (BPA) were funded to assess the progress of the programs funded by Measure Y for the community policing and violence-prevention components.
The community-policing component of Measure Y provides funding for 63 new police officers, as well as their equipment and training. Early evidence from our assessment of the implementation of the Measure Y community-policing program is not altogether positive. The deployment of problem-solving officers (PSOs) is the cornerstone of the community-policing initiative. Unfortunately, the deployment has been delayed because of a lack of available PSOs and has been frustrated by a lack of equipment and training, frequent transfers of officers out of their beats, and infringement on the PSOs’ time. It appears that a combination of financial constraints and administrative challenges has undermined this implementation. It is unclear whether the current reorganization of the Oakland Policed Department (OPD) will improve the department’s focus on community policing or will further compromise its implementation by diverting discretionary resources into the reorganization effort. Our research found that PSOs can make a positive difference in the neighborhoods they serve when they are given time to establish relationships with the residents and time to do their jobs. This suggests that the city should make finding ways to fully implement and adequately support the deployment of its PSOs a priority.
Aside from insufficient deployment of PSOs, the implementation of community policing in Oakland is compromised by a lack of community participation. Community meetings involving the PSOs are generally poorly attended by residents and business leaders, and some of those who do participate report being intimidated and harassed by neighborhood criminals, particularly in high-stress neighborhoods.
Based on these early findings and analyses, recommendations are made for improving the implementation of community policing in Oakland.
Return to CQP May 2008 newsletter
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