As the Oakland Police Commission — a task force that the community won — gets ready to cut Oakland’s policing budget by 50% next year and redirect funds to community services like jobs, health and housing, this measure would move other important accountability measures like the office of inspector general outside of the police department. The inspector general would then be able to independently review Oakland Police Department practices.
This measure would also allow the Police Commission to hire attorneys.
Policing has proven that it can’t hold itself accountable; voting yes on this measure will give us a better chance of doing so and keeping all our communities safe, no matter what we look like or what neighborhood we live in.