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The Push for Civilian Oversight of Complaints Against Oakland Police, 4/28/09: photos
by dave id
On April 28th, the Oakland City Council Public Safety Committee agreed -- with the Mayor's Task Force on Police Issues, PUEBLO, and the strong showing of community members who spoke at the meeting -- that it would be in Oakland's best interest to "civilianize" citizen complaints against the Oakland Police Department, that is that all such complaints should go to the Citizens' Police Review Board rather than allowing OPD internal affairs to continue controlling most of those investigations. Despite this seeming victory, obstacles remain. City Administrator Dan Lindheim is doing all he can to prevent the civilianization plan from being implemented. PUEBLO and police accountability activists are requesting that concerned citizens attend the Public Safety Committee meeting today, June 23rd at Oakland City Hall in order to keep the pressure on for moving the plan forward. If the plan does not move forward today -- to be adopted as part of next year's city budget -- it is likely that the plan will be dead in the water for at least the next year. Another strong showing from the public is needed tonight! Full audio of the Public Safety committee meeting on April 28th can be found at: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/29/18591762.php. Photos of many but not all of the speakers from that meeting are posted below.