Oakland Police Commands Inaudible

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On the evening of June 8th, 2013 Oakland Police were engaged in a vehicular pursuit in West Oakland. At some point, the car bailed, and two occupants fled on foot.

One person was immediately detained, while another allegedly fled into someone’s backyard. A perimeter was established, a helicopter, and a K-9 were brought in to assist heavily armed search teams. As one search team prepared to enter a property, they made announcements as required by departmental policy. On this particular night the loudspeaker malfunctioned and the commands were inaudible. They eventually replaced the speaker with another and conducted a much briefer announcement session before entering the property. While no one was harmed, the possibilities were great. As you can hear the first announcement is completely inaudible, and the second announcement only lasts for 10 seconds. 30 Seconds after the second announcement, the police enter the property guns drawn, accompanied by a K-9.

Announcements are crucial in these situations because they are intended to communicate to the suspect, but more importantly to the residents of the police presence, as well as the possible threat. A residents knowledge of a police operation can mean the difference between life and death. . This operation appeared hasty.

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Oakland Police Shine Light into WeCopwatch Camera

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On June 7th, 2013, WeCopwatch hit the streets of Downtown Oakland to observe police interactions with the public.

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While it was a fairly mild evening it is usual for Oakland Police to shut down 1rst Friday in sections. As police attempted to move people from the West Grand and Telegraph area, one officer became aware of that he was being videotaped and shined a spot light into a WeCopwatch camera. But then he stopped, likely realizing that the interaction would probably make it to youtube by the next morning.

People have the right to observe police conduct. There are no reasons to shine a light in someone’s camera in a lit area except to obstruct their ability to document.

The last memorial weekend in Miami, Carlos Miller of Photography’s Not A Crime found himself in a similar experience.

Following the release of this video, Miami Police Spokesperson said the actions of the officer were immature.
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2013/05/27/miami-beach-police-spokesman-calls-cop-immature-for-shining-light-in-my-camera-lens/

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“Pigs are Haram!” Undercover Police Confronted on May Day

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Written by Bay Area Intifada

This past May Day, autonomous/anarchist people of color held a contingent of about 75 people within the Sin Fronteras’ Immigrant Solidarity march. Although the contingent had a clear non-reformist and unapologetic stance about immigration, they spent the day in solidarity with those struggling against unjust labor and immigration policies.

The mood of the march was joyous and celebratory. During the march, two Muslim anarchists spotted large men who seemed out of place and were paying too much attention to the group. One cop was snapping photos of the Muslims within the contingent.

Demonstrating proper Addab (Islamic etiquette), the Muslim anarchists confronted the men who were clearly undercover police, stopped them from taking photos, and with the support of the rest of the autonomous/anarchist contingent sent them on their way with chants of “Pigs Out!” and “Pigs are Haraam!” Embarrassed and exposed, the two undercover officers slipped away through the crowds watching the spectacle.

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UPDATE on Officer Involved Shooting in Oakland

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This week WeCopwatch reported on a fatal Officer Involved Shooting that took place on May 29th in East Oakland. See article Oakland Police Shoot Fleeing Suspect

Police say they tried to pull over a car and when it wouldn’t pull over, began a chase that would last over ten minutes and would end with a man shot to death by an Oakland Police Officer.

Police like all people are allowed to defend themselves when they are or someone else is in danger. In this case, police say that the man was armed with a loaded handgun when he was fatally shot.

Many people in Oakland carry guns, some illegally. Some argue that conditions are so bad in Oakland, that people have to take security into their own hands.

Ali Winston recently reported in Getting Away With Murder that Oakland Police only solve about 25 percent of the murders that take place each year in Oakland.

With those statistics in mind, WeCopwatch understands that this man may have been armed, but it still curious as to how it actually came to be that this man was shot.

He was running when he was shot, that much police and witnesses agree on. But how did he pose a direct threat to officers? Even with a loaded handgun. There are no reports that the man pulled, aimed, or discharged a weapon.

WeCopwatch asked Oakland Police’s Media Relations a few questions. . .

1. How many times was the man shot?
2. Was he shot in the front or in the back?
3. There are reports of a loaded gun being located.  Was it located at Ritchie Street with the person shot?
4. Was the loaded firearm the only weapon recovered?

This was the Media Relation’s response.

At this time, we are not releasing this level of information due to the
ongoing investigation, but these questions are understandable and will
be addressed as soon as practical.  The Coroner’s report, once approved
for release and coupled with our investigation, will document
circumstances related to questions #1 and #2.  Regarding questions #3
and #4, we preliminarily released information about one firearm
recovered from the scene, and that remains accurate. The “scene” was
meant to denote the immediate scene of the shooting on Ritchie.

As we have discussed before, we are committed to sharing as much
information as possible; however, we are also obligated to conduct a
sound and thorough investigation.  While some may consider the lack of
detail at this point as secretive or opaque, they must consider that
releasing information before all investigative steps have been completed
may very well jeopardize the investigation itself.  Given this concern,
and in the interest of transparency, we will release additional
information and documentation as soon as practical via formal statement
or press release.

While these answers don’t reveal much as too what happened in the moments before the shooting, all responding Oakland Police Officers should have had their PDRDs (Police Data Recording Device) activated, so everything should be on video, including the actual shooting. Will documentation show that this man tried to pull out or fire a handgun at Officers?

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San Francisco Cops Assault Fellow Officer in Bay View

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3 white San Francisco police are accused of racially profiling after pulling over and beating a fellow officer in the Bay View area.

The victim claims that he was asked if he was on parole, ( a question police ask ask people of color, often to demean them.) and was subsequently attacked.

San Francisco Police are currently backing the three white officers.

More info at http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/05/31/san-francisco-police-officer-accuses-colleagues-of-racial-profiling/

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Mission Failure. FBI and the Acorns Projects

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For the third time in just over a month, Federal agencies have assisted Oakland Police in failed raids across the acorn projects.
At 7AM this morning around 120 Oakland Police and Federal Agents from the Secret Service, ATF, DEA, and US Marshals raided several residences in the Acorn Projects. At this point there have been no arrests.

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On Aril 24th, about 150 Federal Agents and about as many Oakland Police Officers conducted 16 raids in multiple cities with their primary focus, the Acorn Projects. They netted 5 arrests, a few guns and some drugs, but from all angles, it was a law enforcement failure.

The Feds Are in Town

Then on May a more downsized unit of 40 FBI Agents, and 30 Oakland Police Officers conducted several more raids in West Oakland, yielding 3 arrests, a few guns, and some drugs.

With this much effort put into one location, one could argue that the large sums of money being spent on law enforcement operations could have greater impact if it was simply given to the residents living in the Acorn Projects.

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Oakland Police Shoot Fleeing Person

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On Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 at around 1:40 p.m. Oakland Police began a vehicle pursuit in East Oakland of a car containing three occupants. The chase initially began with one patrol vehicle, but over the span of the next ten minutes many more units would be deployed to create a perimeter and box the car in. At one point an Officer requested but was denied permission to use a PIT, which is a maneuver in which the police car hits the rear end of the car being chased. The impact is intended to make the driver to loose control of the vehicle.

After a while, the three occupants bailed from the car. Two were detained while another person ran eastbound on Bancroft and was shot within seconds by either a chasing officer, or one that was coming to cut him off.

Police say a loaded gun was recovered, but it is not clear how the man shot posed a threat to officers.

From police and witness’s accounts, the man was fleeing the police.

Witnesses on the scene claim the man didn’t pose a threat. One even held a sign that read. Stop killing our People. . . . The man died from his wounds.

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This is OPD’s Press Release OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

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