News

 

New Area 1 Commander, Captain Anthony Toribio Outlines His Plans

(This message was sent by email from Captain Toribio to citizens active in community policing circles shortly after taking command of our geographical area of Oakland in mid-January 2008)

 

Hello all:

 

As most of you already know, I am the new Area One Commander. I am slowly working my way through attending the many NCPC and other community meetings. The last few weeks have been hectic as the Department has reorganized. Much work has been done in terms of distributing resources and implementing geographic command. The dust is settling in terms of the physical move, getting the nuts and bolts of our administrative infrastructure set, and getting officers out into the field. However, as I have said at some of the NCPC meetings, crime does not wait for reorganization. In this email, I am going to discuss some of the work being done to reduce the reality and perception of crime in Area One.

 

Here goes:

 

The area has been hit hard with robberies and shootings. We had a murder the day before yesterday at MLK and Apgar and we are all still recovering from the robbery and tragic shooting of a young boy at Piedmont. Here is what we are doing to curb this violence:

·         My commanders and I have started meeting regularly with our criminal investigators to identify crime patterns and trends. We are working on a mechanism to improve communication and the working relationship between investigators and officers. The goal here is to share information and to work together to identify suspects and patterns and trends so we can deploy police resources more effectively and efficiently to take these criminals off the street.

·         Sergeant Barney Rivera (ret) is an annuitant and has been reviewing crime reports and assisting me with identifying patterns and trends and recommending strategies to fight crime. He has done an excellent job; I am fortunate to have him on our team.

·         Truancy sweeps. A significant portion of robberies in North Oakland are occurring during school days between the hours of 2-9pm; the suspects are juveniles either individually or in a "rat pack." As staffing permits, your officers are being deployed on beats 6, 11, and 12 to detain and transport truants to the Truancy Center. I have struck an accord with the Youth and Family Services Division (YSFD) whereby officers on overtime have been focusing on truants in Area One. Information gathered is being forwarded to our robbery investigators to assist in their investigations.

·         Quality of life sweeps: Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) is conducting routine quality of life sweeps throughout the area. Patrol officers are also conducting this type of enforcement as staffing and calls for service allow. The goal here is twofold. First, criminals need to know that drinking in public, gambling and other quality of life issues are being enforced. This is part of the "broken windows" theory. There is a nexus between these small crimes and more violent ones. Second, these sweeps give us an opportunity to collect intelligence. I expect your officers to know who is out there engaging in criminal activity. Information we gather is forwarded to investigators to identify suspects and link crimes.

·         Your Problem Solving Officers (PSO) have been directed to spend more time walking the beat and being seen. This is a great deterrent to crime and a good way for officers and merchants/residents to touch base and get to know each other. I am working on alternative ways (dual purpose motorcycles and bicycles) for your officers to be more visible and mobile.

·         Kevin Grant, the City's Violence Prevention Coordinator has been out in recent weeks with his crew reaching out to individuals in our hot spot locations. They will be out today and tomorrow on Beat 6 and 2 meeting individuals hanging around street corners and locations of recent violent crimes and providing referrals to Measure Y services. I believe their efforts have made a positive impact and I appreciate the work they are doing. We are also looking at other Measure Y services to help with our efforts.

·         Recently, your officers have made important robbery arrests. Officer Larry Robertson observed suspects involved in a just-occurred robbery on West Street. The suspects fled and were subsequently arrested (one of them escaped but was arrested days later by Officers Louis Johnson and Aaron Smith).  Officers Everett Peterson and Melvin Bermudez made a great arrest after a local donut shop was robbed. They had been working with our criminal investigators and developed information on the suspects. When the robbery went down, the officers knew where the robbers were going and they were subsequently arrested. These arrests were linked to many robberies. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in robberies throughout the area. Thanks to all the participating officers. In addition, Sgt. Drennon Lindsey, a robbery investigator, has done outstanding work putting these cases together for charging.

·         Our CRT and PSOs have started meeting with members of our Targeted Enforcement Task Force (TETF) team to share information and develop/implement plans to reduce violent crime in the area.

·         Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET or Oakland Redevelopment Agency [ORA]) officers. Effective 09 Feb 08, we will have three new NET officers. Two assigned to West Oakland and one to the San Pablo Ave/Broadway/MacArthur designated areas. These officers will enhance our ability to fight/prevent crime.

·         Special Operations Division (SOD) Captain Ed Tracey has offered some of his resources to help us fight crime. Traffic officers will be providing high visibility traffic enforcement concentrated in targeted locations throughout the area. In addition, a team of NET officers will be engaging in high visibility, proactive enforcement around BART stations in West Oakland, 40th St., and Rockridge.  This is a big help as many robberies are occurring around BART stations.  I am looking forward to working with BART officials to identify ways to reduce these crimes.

 

I have been impressed with not only the hard work and dedication of your officers, but with the high level of commitment and support from the community. I am confident we will make our streets a safer place to live and work. 

 

 

Anthony G. Toribio

Captain of Police

Patrol Division, Area One

Oakland Police Department

(510) 238-3958

 

 

 

Tucker meets with North Hills NCPC (from The Montclarion, Friday November 16, 2007)

  • Police chief, others speak of importance of Neighborhood Watch groups as a way to fight crime

    • By Sierra Filucci

    CORRESPONDENT

    Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker and neighborhood leaders encouraged North Hills residents to continue organizing block-by-block to prevent crime.

    "We're always better than the sum of our parts," Tucker said to about 60 residents who attended the North Hills Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council's Nov. 7 town hall at the Hiller Highlands Country Club.

    "I can't say how seriously you should take this idea of being part of Neighborhood Watch groups," said Tucker.

    Oakland's neighborhood services manager, Claudia Albano, added: "The safety of our community starts with knowing our neighbors." She went on to refer to historical figure Paul Revere and author Robert Putnum, who wrote "Bowling Alone," to illustrate the benefits of "social capital," or "that feeling when people know each other."

    Over the past year, residents of the hills area bordered by Berkeley, Highway 13, Contra Costa County and Thornhill Drive have heeded city and police calls to organize along a community policing model. The latter relies on Neighborhood Watch groups and crime prevention councils to streamline communication with police.

    Twenty new Neighborhood Watch groups have formed in the North Hills during the past 11 months, according to the council's treasurer, Teresa Ferguson.

    The neighborhood council formed last year after Nancy Mueller, now president, and her family were robbed at gunpoint in their home. Neighbors have

    more recently mobilized around property crimes, such as burglary, car theft and vandalism, as well as public safety issues such as blocked streets, speeding and night-time skateboarders. Residents have noted a slight increase in police presence since the formation of the council.

    The police chief acknowledged that crimes involving people rather than property were highest on the department's list.

    "As we get more staff, we'll probably get more successful at property crimes," Tucker said.

    When the department will add to its current force of 731 officers -- 72 fewer than mandated by 2004's Measure Y -- remains unclear.

    Tucker named retirement as the main reason for the department's failure to meet anticipated staffing levels, saying they "significantly underestimated turnover." He said the department lost 135 officers in the 20 months since the passage of Measure Y. During the same period, they have hired and trained 185 new officers.

    Don Jacobus, a resident of the area for more than 70 years, expressed dismay with the continued staffing problems. During a 45-minute question-and-answer period, he told Tucker that after Measure Y, "We hoped we'd get more people involved in property crimes."

    Jacobus asked: "Why can't we get fully staffed?"

    Tucker said California was 15,000 officers short and blamed, in part, a system that encourages officers to retire at age 50.

    Though Tucker said the police academies were adding an additional class to meet staffing needs, Jacobus was unsatisfied.

    "They could be taking more people," he said.

    Other attendees said they were mostly satisfied with the meeting.

    Valerie Acton, who is in the process of forming a new Neighborhood Watch group, said she learned a lot and was encouraged by the police participation at the meeting, and that of the area's problem-solving officer Debbie Mack.

    Mack gave out her cell phone number and encouraged residents to call her if they see suspicious people or dangerous skateboarding activity.

    Resident Barry Horne said he didn't hear a "call to action," and was disappointed with the turnout, but nevertheless, he said, he felt motivated by the presence of his neighbors.

    "People don't feel connected," he said. "They feel connected to the problem, but don't feel connected to the solution."

    The meeting was the start of changing that, said Horne, adding, "In the midst of these people, there is a solution."

     

     

    North Hills group to air crime worries  (from The Montclarion, Friday November 2, 2007)

  • Crime Prevention Council expected to push police chief for more officers on the streets

    • By Sierra Filucci

    CORRESPONDENT

    When the North Hills Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meets next Wednesday, residents and the nearly 50 neighborhood watch groups under its wing will ask Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker for more officers on the streets, according to Teresa Ferguson, treasurer of the council and vice president of the homeowners association.

    "The more neighborhood watch groups get organized, the more people say, 'Hey, we're paying taxes, shouldn't we see a patrol car every once in a while?'" Ferguson said.

    The neighborhood of about 3,500 homes, also known as community policing beat 13Y, runs from Highway 13 to the Contra Costa County border, and sits between Berkeley and Thornhill Drive.

    Concerns about auto theft and car break-ins, as well as public safety issues, prompted the council to invite Tucker to their monthly meeting, which be held beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Highlands Country Club.

    Ferguson says last year a car was broken into every week on her street. Though auto theft and vandalism have subsided in part of the North Hills, they continue to be a problem in other sections, said Nancy Mueller, chair of the council. Residents said more patrols will address the problem.

    Without them, Ferguson said, "Pretty soon people realize anything goes in the hills and you'll never get caught."

    Mueller agreed.

    "We need more officers on foot patrol or bike patrol, and just out there," she added.

    In addition, residents are concerned about safety issues such as emergency vehicle access, speeding and frequent skateboarding activity on the steep, curvy streets.

    In an area where 25 people died in the 1991 Oakland hills fires, streets blocked by construction crews and illegally parked vehicles demand attention, said Jim Dexter, vice chair of the council. "This could lead to a devastating situation in the case of emergency."

    Neighbors have different opinions about how to handle the skateboarding on their streets and on Tunnel Road in particular. Often, it occurs at dusk when driving is particularly tricky, Dexter said. Some want police to crack down on it and others want more tolerance, according to the council's Sept. 5 minutes.

    Tucker will discuss police staffing levels as well as residents' concern about crime in the area, said Oakland police spokesperson Roland Holmgren. He said he'd also address the planned reorganization of the police department, tentatively scheduled for January.

    The anticipated changes include assigning specific officers to geographic regions, and Ferguson hopes this will help police get to know the North Hills area better. At present, police target "hot spots," or places identified as major crime areas.

    Mueller, whose family was held captive inside their home at knifepoint last year while robbers ravaged their home, said this approach leaves the North Hills "vulnerable."

    As the Oakland Police Department struggles to maintain adequate staffing levels, community policing has become a highly touted element of the department's crime prevention strategy. The neighborhood crime prevention councils are a key component of this strategy, Dexter said.

    In concert with the police department's neighborhood services coordinator and a problem-solving officer, the councils help Oakland neighborhoods "act as a single voice," Dexter said. This, in turn, helps police respond to neighborhood concerns -- like the request for more patrols -- efficiently, neighborhood services coordinator Paul Brekke-Miesner said.

    For the North Hills area, this strategy seems to be working.

    "I've seen more patrol cars in the last six months than I have in the last 25 years," Ferguson said. "But I still only see one once every two to three weeks."