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the Oakland Police Commission will vote on Agenda Item #6 — a dangerous proposal to hand OPD $2 million for assault rifles, armored BearCats, drones, and other military-grade weapons.

This is a defining moment for Oakland.

Let’s be real:

• Crime is down. Violent crime has dropped, homicides are down 30%, and overall crime has fallen significantly.
• The city is broke. We’re in a budget crisis — jobs, libraries, and community programs are being cut.
• This plan does not make us safer. It’s about expanding OPD’s power, not protecting Oaklanders.

Read more about OPD’s plan here: Oakland cops want $2 million for assault rifles, drones, and armored vehicles

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And the officers pushing for this expansion? They’re the same ones who’ve already taken lives in our community:

• Lt. Omar Daza-Quiroz — shot and killed Derrick Jones, an unarmed Black barber, in 2010.
• Lt. Eriberto Perez-Angeles — also involved in the killing of Derrick Jones.
• Sgt. Patrick Gonzales — killed Gary King Jr. (2007), shot and paralyzed Ameir Rollins (2006), and led the team that killed Joshua Pawlik (2018).

These are the people demanding more firepower. And we already know how they use it.

SHOW UP AND SPEAK OUT

Oakland Police Commission Meeting
 Thursday, October 9 – 6:30 PM
 Oakland City Hall – 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
 Agenda Item #6 – Vote NO on OPD’s $2 Million Weapons Expansion

TALKING POINTS

1. Crime Is Down — There’s No Justification for Expansion
OPD’s own data shows crime has dropped significantly. Pouring $2 million into weapons when the city is cutting basic services is reckless and unjustifiable. Militarization isn’t safety — it’s waste.

2. Militarization Is About Power, Not Safety
OPD isn’t replacing old gear; it’s expanding its arsenal — 75 new assault rifles, two armored BearCats, and 19 new drones. There’s no plan to retire old weapons. Militarized policing escalates harm and fear — it doesn’t prevent violence.

3. The Officers Behind This Have a Violent Track Record
The officers pushing this plan have already taken Black lives in Oakland. Giving them more deadly tools is a direct threat to community safety.

4. Real Safety Comes from Investment in People
Safety doesn’t come from drones and rifles — it comes from housing, healthcare, youth programs, and violence prevention. Every dollar spent on militarization is a dollar stolen from real safety solutions.

LEGAL & MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Assembly Bill 481 makes it clear:
Cities can only approve military equipment purchases if they are necessary and cost-effective — and if there are no reasonable alternatives for public safety.

OPD’s request fails every test. They already have over 150 rifles, armored vehicles, and access to other regional military gear. And yet 33 officers sit on paid administrative leave, with 12 collecting salaries for over two years, costing taxpayers $3.6 million annually — while OPD demands even more weapons.

Oakland deserves better.

PEOPLE POWER WORKS – AND WE’VE PROVEN IT

Last week, we celebrated a major win when the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission voted 4–2 to reject OPD’s attempt to integrate city cameras with Flock Safety’s mass surveillance network.
Read more: Oakland Privacy Commission rejects Flock Safety surveillance expansion

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As Cat Brooks, APTP Co-Founder, said:

“Oaklanders showed up and made it clear: we refuse to hand over our city’s data to a for-profit company that profits from surveillance, collaborates with ICE, and violates our most fundamental rights. Mass surveillance is not safety — investment in housing, healthcare, and community care is.”

We won that fight because the community showed up. And we can win again tonight.

It’s our city. Our safety. Our future.
Let’s stop OPD’s militarization plan — the same way we stopped their surveillance grab.

www.antipoliceterrorproject.org