Oakland Police Problem-Solving Officers Back Patrolling Streets
OAKLAND (KCBS) – Oakland's problem-solving officers have returned to the street, with many deployed to the city's highest crime areas.
57 PSOs were reassigned to patrol duties last year after 80 officers were laid off in July. They deal with quality of life issues, concentrate on getting to know the neighborhood they patrol and are generally relieved of having to handle routine calls for service.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
Oakland police spokeswoman Holly Joshi said the so-called "stresser beats," where there is normally more crime, are getting the extra attention.
"We have decided that we are redeploying the PSOs to handle the stresser beats," she said. "So there will be more PSOs on certain beats."
But not everyone is on board with the new deployment.
"I think that the police presence is needed all over," said Christie, who works at a store in Montclair Village. "We've had issues up here and sometimes it takes awhile to get a response. We've actually been broken into several times and the six hour wait was a long wait."
Because of the new assignments, some parts of Oakland will now have to share a problem-solving officer.
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