Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/J/89351447947
Okland PD uses a “Bearcat” tank-like vehicle for pre-planned SWAT deployments, often to serve warrants; at the Oakland Coliseum and other public events; at Sideshows; and to respond to emergencies. OPD also uses an armored “Surburban” SUV, which is not military-looking or as large and can withstand gunfire. In 2018-2019, OPD deployed the Bearcat about twice a week on average, mostly in East Oakland and West Oakland, never in the hills. The Bearcat’s expected functional life span will be up in about 3-5 years. Some people propose not getting another vehicle like the Bearcat when its use expires.
After OPD killed Joshua Pawlik, who was awakening from sleep, in March 2018 using a Bearcat as a shooting platform, a federal judge ordered Oakland to adopt policies on armored vehicles and two other issues (including responses to armed unconscious persons), which have a deadline of next month. The Police Commission appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to develop the policies (including Anne Janks), and they drafted the first two, before turning to policy for armored vehicles, which the Commission approved last night. This Ad Hoc Committee will hear community input on January 11th from 6:15 to 7:15 pm. The full Police Commission will consider a draft policy on January 28, before turning it over to the City Council.
OPD’s SWAT (Tactical Operations) team deploys with the Bearcat as a package: assault rifles, body armor, helmets, chemical agents, flash bangs, “less lethal” shotguns. Young people have testified how traumatizing their experience of these SWAT raids were. Yet the decision to deploy the Bearcat is linked in OPD policy and practice to these SWAT raids, with unclear and wide criteria for when to deploy.
The Commission has created a web page about Bearcat and armored vehicle policy at:
https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/ad-hoc-committee-on-militarized-equipment
That page also includes OPD’s draft of the armored vehicle policy, and email addresses for Oakland Police Commission members, to whom you can send written comments. This list-serve doesn’t accommodate attachments larger than 500kb, but I can send anyone a copy of the revision to the policy that we are working on.
The proposed Oakland ordinance on militarized equipment will also require a policy for armored vehicles, but that ordinance has not yet been adopted by the City Council. The ordinance will also require an impact statement and, if equipment is approved, regular reporting on it use.
