As Oakland closes in on surpassing the number of homicides last year, Mayor Libby Schaaf on Monday announced she will propose lifting a hiring freeze on 50 vacant police jobs in an effort to combat the epidemic of violence in the city.
Schaaf’s announcement came one day after a man was fatally shot Sunday afternoon after confronting someone he suspected had been burglarizing nearby cars, the 127th death being investigated by Oakland police as a homicide this year. Additionally, the California Highway Patrol has investigated five homicides so far on Oakland freeways.
There were 131 homicides in Oakland in 2012, the highest number since 148 homicides in 2006. The most homicides in Oakland in one year was 175 in 1992.
In a press conference held Monday, Schaaf condemned the recent killings and the surge in gun violence that coincided with the pandemic in 2020.
“I know I join all Oaklanders in decrying the spate of violence. Every one of the losses and horrors done by violence hurts our entire community,” Schaaf said.
Joined by councilmembers Loren Taylor and Treva Reid, who represent the East Oakland council districts 6 and 7, Schaaf said her office would make a public on Friday a proposal to reverse the freezing of 50 police positions that were approved in the current budget for next fiscal year. The proposal will also include the addition of another police academy class and a call to increase the number of active police officer positions. It would have to be approved by the city council.
The council will hold a special meeting to discuss public safety on Dec. 7.
A 28-year-old man was the latest homicide victim. He was shot just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the 600 block of Grand Avenue, near Lake Merritt, according to Oakland police.
Earlier, he had witnessed someone breaking into cars in the 3300 block of Grand Avenue, police said. He then saw the same burglar along Grand Avenue about a half-mile to the south, and was shot while confronting him. The gunman then fled the scene.
An Oakland resident of about two years, the slain man was a part-time construction worker who had lived nearby in the Adams Point neighborhood, authorities said. His name was not released Monday, pending notification of next of kin.
The police are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter or individuals involved with the crime. Anyone with info can call 510-238-3821 or Crime Stoppers of Oakland at 510-777-8572.
Staff writers Harry Harris, Annie Sciacca and Jakob Rodgers contributed to this report.
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Person shot on Grand Ave near Lake Merritt. @oaklandpoliceca investigating. @EastBayTimes @OakTribNews pic.twitter.com/q13KK2PdQI
— Tyska (@Tyska) November 29, 2021