California AG Harris Offers Special Agents To Fight Oakland Crime
OAKLAND (KCBS) – As the city of Oakland refocuses its attention on crime prevention in the wake of the recent accidental shooting death of a 3-year-old boy, California Attorney General Kamala Harris is offering help in the form of special agents.
In the days following the death of Carlos Nava, Oakland police doubled the number of officers on the streets and in turn, saw a drop in violence.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:
But with the city facing cutbacks and an erosion of manpower, Attorney General Kamala Harris has offered to help Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts by sending in special agents to help.
"What we have to do is realize that in this economic climate, the Oakland Police Department had to lay off a bunch of officers," Harris said. "Police departments up and down the state had to. I'm looking at severe budget cuts to our law enforcement force. This is the time when we really have to rededicate ourselves to not reducing law enforcement, but maintaining its resources so that it can address issues such as the crime that's happening in Oakland."
Oakland currently has 659 police officers, but some city officials said it should have double that amount.
Harris herself is facing a $71 million cut from the state's gang and drug task forces.
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