As KTVU reported on Friday, their office obtained about 1,000 internal emails between Oakland City Hall and the Oakland Police Department discussing how the city should handle the Occupy Oakland encampment before and after the initial raid on October 25th that landed the city in the national spotlight more ›

Do you remember this footage of an OPD officer covering his name tag with black tape (which is a no-no) during the Occupy Oakland general strike? Viemo user BLK PXLS (AKA Terrence Jerod Williams) captured officer John Hargraves masking his name, a common occurrence at occupy rallies around the US so that officers cannot be named or referenced if they participate in police misconduct. Well, both the officer in question and Lt. Clifford Wong, who was in charge of Hargraves' squad that day, are in a mess of trouble for their actions. more ›

After encountering several arrests at Frank Ogawa Plaza during the past few weeks, Occupy Oakland has turned the heat up a notch by organizing a "March Against Repression" Saturday night dubbed, "Fuck OPD." The organizers are demanding the release of their fellow activists who are currently in Santa Rita Jail, including Marcel Johnson, a homeless man who might be facing the three-strike law and was allegedly held in solitary confinement without his psychiatric medications for ten days. more ›

BLK PXLS captured this superb footage of an Oakland policer officer covering up his name tag during Wednesday's chaotic, tear gas-filled Occupy Oakland general strike. more ›

"What the fuck happened in Oakland?" Jon Stewart asked during last night's Daily Show. "Seems a little heavy handed... unless some of the protesters were Godzilla," he went on to quip. The comedian took on the city of Oakland's brutal response to Occupy Oakland, which included, among other tactics, using flashbang grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas. (Most notably, Iraq veteran Scott Olsen was seriously injured during the attack.) more ›

As a woman man lies crumpled on the ground after a beanbag assault by Oakland police during last night's scuffle between the city of Oakland and Occupy Oakland, several bystanders and protesters came to her his aid. That was when an officer decided to fling what appears to be a flashbang stun grenade into the group. more ›

Oakland, dude. There's hella more angry, semi-organized, semi-maybe-unemployed, restless kids over there. Well, at least a couple hundred more than there have been in the daily occupation at Occupy SF. And last night things erupted into a tear-gassy mess after a day-long stand-off between displaced Frank Ogawa Plaza campers (and other non-camping protesters) and Oakland police — who were donning riot gear and guarding the perimeter of the plaza around Oakland City Hall, all day, as if it were the armory in Shays' Rebellion, and not just a smelly campsite that got a little rat-infested and poopy. Now CNN and the New York Times Lede blog are covering the story, and we can assure you it will continue on well into Wednesday and beyond. more ›

After this morning's temporary disembowelment of Occupy Oakland by the city of Oakland, the group sent out a strongly worded message in which they claim a) "it's not finished" and b) that they will regroup this afternoon to plan their next move. more ›

Fifteen years ago today, Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas. His murder remains steeped in questions and controversy. However, while the Oakland artist was alive, he tossed off the following quote regarding a police brutality lawsuit he filed against the Oakland Police Department. more ›

Speaking of hate crimes, local musician Brontez alleges that he was gay bashed last night while leaving Club Paradiso (2272 Telegraph) in Oakland. Via his Facebook page, he writes: "Got gay bashed last night. Me and my bandmate Adal were leaving the Paradiso in Downtown Oakland when two dudes with (Caribbean?) accents and dreadlocks started calling us 'batty boys' and saying that if we were in Jamaica we'd be dead." more ›

Some members of the National Lawyers Guild and a smattering of community activists claim the Oakland Police Department "used excessive force in responding to a large protest after the verdict in the trial of former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle," reports AP/CBS5. more ›

In an effort to reduce a $31 million deficit, a whopping 80 officers from the Oakland Police Department will lose their jobs today. "Hopes appear to be fading but they are not gone yet," says KGO. But, well, unless a unicorn-like miracle happens within the hour, the OPD will see a drastic cut this evening, even though public safety is an always-growing concern for the East Bay city. [KGO] more ›

The Oakland Police Department revealed yesterday that "Officer Murray Hoyle committed suicide in an unincorporated area of Brentwood on Saturday." Hoyle, it seems, was with the OPD for more than 28 years. According to CBS 5/BCN, Hoyle "transferred to the traffic division, where he enjoyed enforcing traffic laws and riding a police motorcycle. He later transferred back to patrol and was well-known for working in the Montclair District." He is survived by his wife and three children, ages 22, 15, and 11. No word as to why, exactly, he took his own life. Sad. In related troubled East Bay police officer news, did anyone happen to catch last night's Intervention? It was about "Gloria," an alcoholic Concord police officer resident. Fortunately, she kicked the booze and no longer slaps her daughter or spends her rent money on booze. Congratulations, Gloria! more ›

Yesterday. after two Oakland officers confronted a man on the 1400 block of 16th Avenue a little after 3 p.m., "the suspect pulled out a handgun and started firing at the officers." Which was stupid. Because then, to no one's surprise, the cops shot the man dead. As it turned out, the unidentified 36-year-old dead man also matched the description of a rape suspect. (This, of course, brings to mind suspected rapist Lovelle Mixon, who killed four OPD officers last March before being blown to bits himself.) goes on to report that the OPD officers "were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice" after an officer-involved shooting death. more ›

The California State Assembly introduced la bit of legislation, one that would "designate a portion of Interstate Highway 580 in unincorporated Alameda County as the Sgt. Daniel Sakai Memorial Highway in honor of the Oakland police officer who was slain in March, " according to reports. Conceived by Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, a strip of Highway 580 between East Castro Valley Boulevard and Strobridge Avenue. "By naming this section of Highway 580 after Sergeant Sakai, we have the opportunity to pay tribute to his courage, and forever be inspired by the heartfelt dedication and strong values he demonstrated throughout his life," said Hayashi. Sakai and three of his brethren, as most of you recall, were violently gunned down by Lovelle Mixon in March. After raping at least two women the day before and going on a murder spree, Mixon was, thankfully, in turn shot to death by OPD officers. more ›

As of 11:30 a.m., bagpipes play as the caskets carrying the bodies of Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Sgt, Ervin Romans, Sgt. Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Heg enter Oracle Arena. Gavin Newsom, Barbara Boxer, and Jerry Brown are in attendance, as are thousands of Oakland officers. more ›

Enjoli Mixon, 24, the brother sister of the man who shot and killed four Oakland police offices being being gunned down, was arrested over the weekend for "being under the influence of a controlled substance," according to reports. This most recent brush with the law stems form a bench warrant for her arrest in Fremont in 2008. more ›

Fuzz from "throughout California and from as far away as New York and Florida" showed up today to attend the funerals of Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Sgt, Ervin Romans, Sgt. Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege. While every Oakland police officer has the day off to attend the services (or play hooky), officers from outside the OPD will take their place for the day. Same goes for 911 dispatchers. In related news, "Interstate 880 near Oracle Arena and surrounding streets are gridlocked as police officers arrive for the slain OPD officers' funeral," according to CBS 5. Use caution (or BART) when traveling in the East Bay today, folks. more ›

While tomorrow's funeral for the four Oakland police officers is anticipated to draw 18,000 people to the Oracle Arena, almost every East Bay freeway will be affected as the bodies of Oakland Police officers Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Sgt. Ervin Romans, Sgt. Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege and their families make their way to and from the funeral. According to KNTV, "processions will come from Tracy, Danville, Concord and Castro Valley which will effect nearly every East Bay freeway. Specifically it] will impact Highway 880, Interstate Highway 980, state Highway 238, Interstate Highway 680, and Interstate Highway 580." more ›

Photographs of the makeshift memorial for Mark Dunakin, John Hege, Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai, the four officers gunned down by Lovelle Mixon on Saturday, March 21. more ›