Oakland Public Safety Committee

This committee shapes Oakland's policing, fire services, violence prevention, and crime reduction policy, including OPD's budget and staffing. What passed, what changed, and what this means for you.
09
Jun

Oakland sends $38.1M anti-violence plan to Council, cut to 2 years

Oakland Public Safety Committee: A $38.1M plan for 21 violence-prevention groups heads to the full Council, cut from 3 years to 2. The first wildfire report flagged an unfilled manager job.
3 min read
26
May

Oakland's $47M violence plan goes to council without an endorsement

Oakland Public Safety Committee: The 2026-2030 Measure NN violence plan goes to the City Council June 2 with no committee recommendation, amid concerns over police staffing and 911 response.
3 min read
12
May

Oakland crime falls: homicides down 28%, robberies down 43%

Oakland Public Safety Committee: Police reported serious crime down 21% over six months. The committee delayed an OPD social work intern plan 3-1 and heard a police oversight report.
4 min read
24
Mar

Oakland reports 614 officers as rivals offer up to $70K bonuses

Oakland Public Safety Committee: OPD's first vehicle GPS tracker policy, which adds new reporting, heads to a council vote April 14. OPD reported 614 sworn field officers in a recruiting update.
2 min read
10
Mar

Oakland backs $900,000 to revive its police cadet program

Oakland Public Safety Committee: Members backed as much as $900,000 to reinstate OPD's cadet program, 4-0, and sent it to the full council for a March 16 vote.
2 min read
24
Feb

Oakland backs license plate readers, drones, and 5 more police tools

Oakland Public Safety Committee: The committee voted to keep all 7 OPD surveillance tools, from plate readers to drones, and sent it to a March 3 council vote. Plus $3,409,389 in paramedic gear.
4 min read
10
Feb

Oakland firefighters' mental-health contract heads to council

Oakland Public Safety Committee: The committee backed a $700K mental-health contract for firefighters and sent it to the full council for a Feb 17 vote. Ken Houston named vice chair.
2 min read