Top Commanders To Play Key Role In New Oakland Police Strategy
OAKLAND (KCBS) — Following reports that the Oakland Police Department will divide patrolling the city into five districts from the previous two, Chief Howard Jordan announced police commanders will be more accountable as part of a new community policing strategy.
At a news conference Monday, Jordan said this model is used nationwide and that top commanders will play a key role.
"There are very few police departments now, in major cities, that are not operating under the models such as we are right now," Jordan said.
Top Commanders To Play Key Role In New OPD Crime-Fighting Strategy
Jordan joined the police department's top brass in East Oakland, one of the most crime-ridden areas of the city, to unveil their crime-fighting strategy.
He admitted staffing remains an issue, but Jordan said the new model is designed to use the department's resources more effectively.
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Assistant Police Chief Anthony Toribio described some of the captain's expectations. "We have a high-ranking police captain with the authority to develop crime-reduction strategies, specific to neighborhood crime patterns and trends and they will be responsible for insuring that we'd strengthen the partnership that we have with our community," Toribo said.
The chief conceded the community policing strategy would work best with a police force of 1,000 officers. Currently, there are a little more than 600 officers with the department.
Jordan said the Oakland Police Department is graduating 38 new officers this Friday, with another class of 56 officers entering the academy shortly.
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