The crime rate continues to plague the city of Oakland, but now help is on the way.
Oakland is getting more officers on the streets.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced today that Oakland is getting 10 new officers thanks to a federal grant.
Right now Oakland has 615 officers on the force.
Oakland was awarded the largest grant to pay for new officers out of 39 California cities.
“This is a great day for the people of Oakland, who deserve and need a stronger police force,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said. “This growth is part of a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the Oakland Police Department and we’re seeing it pay off: with this grant, with the series of new officer academies we’re funding and with our additional efforts to grow the force.”
The criteria was based on financial need, crime rates and community policing plans.
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Oakland has had 60 homicides so far this year.
OPD had its first academy of new officers in 4 years graduate in March. That class had 38 officers. On Friday a new class graduates with 36 officers will graduate.
The funding for the 10 new officers lasts for 3 years and then the cities must pay for the officers.
