Copwatch: Oakland Police Tear Gas Occupy Oakland

written by Rina Palta of Kalwnews,
Sure enough, Chief Howard Jordan said this evening that the Independent Monitor will look into allegations of force used against protesters.

Among the myriad troubles facing the city of Oakland right now is a question of how the federal court that's currently overseeing Oakland's police department will view the city's aggressive response to Occupy Oakland. In 2003, after a group of rogue West Oakland officers, now known as the "Riders" were accused of planting evidence and beating suspects, the department agreed to a number of reforms as part of a negotiated settlement. That consent decree has been extended twice, as the court and its independent monitoring team have repeatedly chastised the department for not adequately progressing on required reforms. In a recent hearing, Judge Henderson went as far as threatening the department with federal receivership if it doesn't make progress. Oakland officials have repeatedly said they're taking steps to avoid receivership, but the city's handling of Occupy Oakland is sure to draw the court's attention.


The court has several issues with the department. Among them is officers in the department's high rate of drawing weapons while interacting with the public. "The level of unnecessary drawing of firearms is astounding," the judge said at a September hearing. Also at issue is what the judge called an "attitude of resistance" to the Negotiated Settlement Agreement.

When Chief Anthony Batts left Oakland earlier this month, the NSA was clearly on his mind. "No chief wants to be in a position where he or she is being held accountable but does not have the power to make a dramatic impact," Batts said when he announced his departure.

"I do think things were not what he thought they were going to be and I appreciate the fact that he has other opportunities and he's made his decision now, because we really only have about three more months to work on the Negotiated Settlement Agreement," Mayor Jean Quan said at the time. The implication then was that Interim Chief Howard Jordan would focus heavily on complying with the settlement and ending federal intervention.

Considering the escalating threats of receivership coming from the court, there's no doubt that the Independent Monitoring Team will have great interest in reports coming out of Occupy Oakland over the past few days of an aggressive police response to protesters. Specifically, police--whether from Oakland or brought in from other jurisdictions under mutual aid agreements--have repeatedly deployed tear gas and other less-lethal weapons in response to protesters' refusal to disperse. And several protesters have sought medical attention for wounds apparently resulting from the police response--among them, Iraqi War veteran Scott Olsen, whose injury was captured on video by KALW's Ali Winston.

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News & Politics

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• police brutality

[1775novten]

Unbelievable how easy it is for them to use violence against their own citizens. What is an unlawful assembly? One that is done without permission and permits from the city? The Constitution doesn't say that we have the right to assemble as long as the government gives you prior written consent. The Constitution is our permit! These officers should be ashamed - I hope their wives leave them and parents disown them in shame.

[niannabray]

unlawful assembly????



[1775novten]

@GTAC13 No where. But if you want to take about the days of the Constitution, do you remember that all New York citizens used to dump their "waste" into the streets before sewage lines were installed. Also, public property was never regulated the way it is today and I'm sure thousands of people "camped" out on public property back in the days of the Constitution. However, I don't think it was ever acceptable to block streets and I agree.

[GTAC13]

@1775novten Where in the constitution do you have the right to camp out on public property? Where in the constitution do you have the right to shit in public parks? Where in the constitution do you have the right to block public streets?

[7475flyersfan]

They didn't attack it they got rid of the vermin like an exterminator New York has to sanitize the area where those idiots were camped out becuase they used it as a giant toilet.

[MNhistorywriter]

This reminds me so much of the Chicago 1968 Democratic National Convention that resulted in a "police riot," not my term but that of the investigative commission that followed. The city prepared for violence, and they got it. It could have been avoided if Mayor Daley had simply let the protesters stay in Grant Park overnight. They decided they had to clear the park and ended up chasing innocent bystanders all over downtown.

[1775novten]

@SamuraiSarge Believe it or not, it was my intent to become a LEO myself when I got out of the Marine Corps. I did multiple ride-a-longs and was lined up to attend the next academy, when I just realized that this wasn't the line of work for me. I didn't sense the honor in it like I did with the Marine Corps. I was exposed to the un-written quotas and above the law attitude that just turned me off.

[1775novten]

@SamuraiSarge I don't want you to misunderstand me, as I am no "cop hater". I just don't see that relevant of a need for them, although I agree there is a need. If you are in fact a LEO, then you know that LEO's don't turn in other LEO's. And you'd also know that the union can get them out of pretty much anything. Again, I KNOW there are good officers, it just sickens me that they are forced to turn a blind eye to the bad ones.

[SamuraiSarge]

@1775novten Wow...That was quite the reply. I can see that I'm not going to change your mind on this. I just ask that you keep an open mind and try to see things from the other side of the riot shield. I enjoy discussing this sort of stuff with non-LEOs because I like to see their views on law enforcement and society in general (My way of looking at both sides) no matter how biased they may be. Anyways, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one then. Take care and stay safe novten

[1775novten]

@SamuraiSarge Police are rarely held accountable for their actions, and if they are, they are to a much lower extent than the average citizens. Police literally get away with murder. There is no accountability. Even in those videos I linked to you, you know damn well that those officers will never be held accountable. Not saying all are bad, but the good ones cover for the bad ones, which makes them just as corrupt.

[1775novten]

@SamuraiSarge Another is that cops don't prevent or report the unlawful actions of other officers. They follow their code of silence. I can't find the video right now, but I just watched one of a cop caught in the dilemma of arresting another cop that he had just pulled over for dui. It was actually sad. The officer even said, "if I arrest this guy then I'll never get promoted and my career will be over, but if I don't and my dash camera video gets out, I'll be fired". Happens every day.

[1775novten]

@SamuraiSarge But who needs a cop? You come running after the crime has already been committed, and you're there to just take the report. Not that that is the polices' fault, as obviously you can't be everywhere. If people took their own protection into their own hands, there would be less need for cops. Two issues I have is that it appears the focus is on traffic violations, as opposed to community interaction and crime prevention. cont..