Oakland Police Say No To Federal Oversight

How law enforcement work to change the protocol in their favor.

Law enforcement across the country is seeking ways to be less accountable and transparent. First I hear the Miranda Agreement is being challenged in the courts, police hunch stops, and now the Oakland police department wants to rid itself of accountability. If they would just do their job, there would be no need for changing laws or protocols to oversee their actions in any manner. Qualified immunity has given many police officers carte blanche with policing.

The newest item on the agenda is Oakland police seeking to end U.S. Federal oversite. Why? They have been under federal oversight for almost two decades now and there has to be a reason for this. No one watches over another’s should without reason. That would be a waste of resources.

Not all law enforcement is evil but of late there are too many too easily count that have shown behavior not befitting the badge worn. Protect and serve in some is a thing of the past and lacks desire of it being adhered to in any manner when they are on the streets policing some communities particularly, communities of color.

The Oakland police fight continues as they head to court to make their case for the end of federal oversight. Without oversight, some police would operate like wild cattle on the streets causing havoc and mayhem at every step.

In 2003, the Oakland Police Department was placed under federal oversight pending compliance with 52 reforms negotiated in a settlement agreement, inclusive of racial profiling and report practices about the use of force per the LA Times.

Black men have been and are at the butt of much ill behavior from the said Oakland Police Department in this particular court case. Other communities of color have witnessed or have experienced much cruelty at the hand of the police, even in many unwarranted cases.

In 2000, 100 plus Black men filed a class-action civil rights lawsuit against some of the police officers of the Oakland Police department, a group known as the “the Riders”. They have a reputation for beating, kidnapping, and planting evidence on Black men whenever and wherever they will. Kudos to these Black men for putting a stop to “the Riders” racist behavior.

Their civil rights class-action lawsuit did not garner a guilty verdict against “the Riders” but led to a comprehensive settlement that included federal oversight regarding negotiated reforms. Justifiably so, if there are no checks and balances within the Oakland Police force, then all would be business as usual. Federal oversight is needed and should not be removed not readily anyway. They are upholders of the law and should be held to higher standards. So why not the federal oversight to reaming?

If the higher officials and administrators cannot take control of their own house, then an outsider is needed to oversee what is happening behind closed doors, out of the sight of the public eye and other government officials in their department.

In keeping with the lawsuit settlement’s mandated negotiated police reforms, an independent monitor oversaw compliance with the mandated reforms and advised the court that the Oakland Police had complied with the reforms except for one, to implement a consistent disciplinary policy that mitigates racial disparities. This omission is major and is why all are in court today.

Does Oakland Police not get the point? Stop the racism and stop harassing Black people and others due to the color of their skin for one reason or another and most often not justified.

Oakland Police Department claims they have committed to ensuring that the tasks or requested reforms inclusive of progressive policing have been met. Commitment to a cause is one thing, implementing it into police practice is a whole different agenda. A theory is useless in life unless it is tested, and proved over time.

Oakland Police need to get real, do the job, and police the community with respect and integrity toward all people or find a new career. No federal insight would have been needed if they were doing their job efficiently and without biased and racism to begin with. Where there is smoke there is fire.

Ensuring some of the reforms and not all does not justify eliminating Federal oversight, plus time proves all to be true or otherwise. Doing a good deed while all eyes are looking in, does not justify removing oversight. Plus, if compliance is true and moving forward, why care if oversight is present or not?

The Black men’s group is not buying moving oversight so quickly and that time will prove the reality of the new reforms. Doing a good deed for a day or a week does not justify or constitute the reality of change. Oversight removal should be based on history and it is too soon to justify a history of sustainability within the Oakland Police Department.

Removing oversight too soon sends a negative message to Black communities as the Oakland Police may become repeat offenders of the law and people of color policing. Oversight should be done in increments after sustainable behavior within the Oakland Police Department is visible, sustained, and standard practice.

The court will decide whether to approve this settlement regarding the reform requiring sustainability or the removal of federal oversight. Changes take time in any organization and especially one that has been allowed to run wild breaking many rules while policing. Creating a new habit does not happen overnight, it takes time for the new habit to be formed and adhered to.

Oakland Police Department’s request for the removal of the Federal oversight claims that the police shooting rates and disparities in arrests among Black and While residents have been greatly reduced compared to other cities. Some things need not be compared, outside of themselves. For example, what was the disparity in arrests last year, the years before, and the current year within the Oakland Police Department? This is where the truth lies. Comparing one city’s crime rate to another does not justify any accountability or change. The history of Oakland Police policing practices within the Black community is the truth of Oakland Police’s actions.

In conclusion, Federal oversight should remain in place as long as necessary and until the evidence proves otherwise and effort, accountability, and transparency takes time to manifest. If the police cannot police their department efficiently and without biasness, then the public needs to make their voices heard starting with local government officials. All people need to stand up for what is right and humane.

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