Free Talk Live

Chief Anthony Batts told the media there were at least 44 situations that his officers would no longer respond except via online to if the cuts were made. Here's a partial list:

* burglary
* theft
* embezzlement
* grand theft
* grand theft: dog
* identity theft
* false information to peace officer
* required to register as sex or arson offender
* dump waste or offensive matter
* pass fictitious check
* obtain money by false voucher
* fraudulent use of access cards
* stolen license plate
* embezzlement by an employee (over $400)
* extortion
* attempted extortion

The Oakland Police Department is feeling the burn of California's unending budget crisis, as 80 officers were laid off Tuesday night after negotiations between city and police union failed to reach an accord.

The department's chief had said in recent days that unless the city could meet the union's demands, officers would no longer respond in person to register sex offenders, or for reports of vehicle accidents, grand theft, identity theft, burglary, embezzlement, vandalism, stray animals and others.

"If you come home to find your house burglarized and you call, we're not coming," said Oakland Police spokeswoman Holly Joshi. The city laid off 80 officers from its force of 687 last month and the department can't respond to burglary, vandalism, and identity theft. "It's amazing. It's a big change for us." In other words, the monopoly is almost out of business, but no other organization can legally defend people from property crimes.

The shooting occurred just a few months after Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts called for a review of police procedures after the controversial videotaped police shooting of a young deer that was cornered in an East Oakland backyard. Officers in that case fired six rounds.

Dozens of police in riot gear and hundreds of protesters in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse in downtown Oakland on Tuesday, with authorities using tear gas to respond to demonstrators' repeated agitations.

“The Chief or authorized designee (i.e. Communications Division) shall refuse police response to any alarm notification from an alarm site that does not have a valid permit,” reads the ordinance.

"We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99%..."

What a bunch of whiny dickholes. If they disagree with the mayor's orders then they should use a little discretion (something many police officers lack these days) and participate in some civil-disobedience. Are they worried that one of their comrades may shoot them in the face?

There were 500 riot police, 17 law enforcement agencies and 75 arrests in the raid of Occupy Oakland on October 25th. There were 200 police, 12 agencies and 32 arrests today. Oakland PD is losing ground.

Oakland laid off 80 police officers Tuesday after negotiations between city officials and union leaders failed on one simple matter: job security.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/14/MNV11EDUCC.D...