Oakland Public Safety Committee Meeting – March 24, 2026

The Oakland City Council Public Safety Committee convened on March 24, 2026, at 6:04 PM and adjourned at 7:20 PM. The committee unanimously approved the minutes from March 10, 2026, and the schedule of outstanding committee items. It forwarded two action items (a throw‑phone contract and a GPS tracker use policy) to the April 14, 2026 Special City Council Consent Agenda, and received and filed a biannual OPD staffing report. Public speakers addressed several policy and operational concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 – Outstanding Committee Items: Rajni Mandal (District 4) requested two oversight reports be scheduled: (1) the Police Commission’s recommendation on OPD’s annual militarized equipment use report (under Oakland’s MEU ordinance) and (2) a periodic report from the Community Police Review Agency (CIPRA), as noted in a recent city audit. Another speaker advocated for reports on missing persons, traffic citation vs. warning data, the Bay case (unsolved murders of an African American man and his brother), the Black police officers’ grievance, sanctuary city ordinance enforcement, and truancy/stop‑data tracking. A third speaker highlighted illegal dumping and litter from unpermitted vending, urging more enforcement and sanitation support.
• Item 3 – LETS Throw Phone Contract: One speaker questioned the rationale for allowing a contract extension without council approval, the frequency of use, and whether the expenditure was justified given other pressing police funding needs (recruitment, wellness, training, accountability).
• Item 4 – OPD Staffing Report: Four speakers commented. David Boatwright noted the net active officer count (614) and questioned the cost‑effectiveness of recruiting from out‑of‑state. Another speaker praised a Black sergeant’s presence, criticized the NSA (Negotiated Settlement Agreement) for adding bureaucratic stress, and asked for breakdowns of personnel on leave and in various units. Rajni Mandal pointed out a retention problem (78 officers lost last year), linking it to exit interviews citing working conditions and NSA oversight, and urged aligning the budget with realistic staffing and improving retention.
• Item 5 – GPS Tracker Policy: One speaker expressed concern that the Privacy Commission had overstepped by incorporating revisions into the final draft, and questioned the body’s authority to mandate recommendations.
• Open Forum: One speaker complained about a councilmember’s behavior and made remarks about visa overstays and immigration. Another speaker did not appear.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – LETS Throw Phone Contract (Resolution): OPD Sergeant Stephen Lorda explained that the throw‑phone system is a de‑escalation tool for communicating with barricaded or hostage‑taking subjects via text, video, or voice. The contract (up to $22,583.26 over 4 years) was previously authorized; this step selects the vendor. Councilmembers asked about operational use and the necessity of the technology. The item was forwarded to the full Council on consent.
• Item 4 – OPD Staffing Report (Informational): OPD’s Deputy Director Keanu Settle and Sergeant Romans Rowe provided updates. As of March 24, 2026, sworn field staffing stood at 614, with a monthly attrition rate of 6. Recruitment challenges were discussed: a canceled academy in November 2024 set back efforts; a $120,000 marketing budget was deemed insufficient (Sergeant Rowe cited a need of at least $558,000 for a comprehensive campaign). Several officers who left for other agencies (some offering up to $70,000 signing bonuses) have expressed interest in returning, often citing OPD’s culture. Councilmembers debated whether increased marketing alone would address deeper issues (cost of living, public perception of policing, NSA oversight, in‑person testing barriers). Councilmember Houston pledged to advocate for more funding. The report was received and filed.
• Item 5 – OPD GPS Tracker Surveillance Use Policy (Resolution): Sergeant Yunzhou presented Policy I‑33, which governs OPD’s use of vehicle GPS trackers in criminal investigations, requiring a search warrant except in exigent circumstances. The Privacy Advisory Commission recommended minor revisions (e.g., reporting when a warrant for exigent use is denied). Councilmembers clarified that this policy does not cover GPS tracking of police vehicles (a separate initiative) and that a vendor contract will come later. The item was forwarded to the full Council on consent.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 – Minutes: Approved unanimously (4‑0).
• Item 2 – Committee Schedule: Accepted unanimously (4‑0).
• Item 3 – LETS Throw Phone Contract: Motion (Brown/Houston) to approve staff recommendation and forward to the April 14, 2026 Special City Council Consent Agenda at 3:30 PM. Passed 4‑0.
• Item 4 – OPD Staffing Report: Motion (Houston/Wang) to receive and file. Passed 4‑0.
• Item 5 – GPS Tracker Policy: Motion (Wang/Houston) to approve staff recommendation and forward to the April 14, 2026 Special City Council Consent Agenda at 3:30 PM. Passed 4‑0.