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Oakland Police Department releases report on police behavior during Occupy Oakland; half of the complaints still unexplored one year later

Published on Friday, October 12, 2012
Last updated on 01:50PM, Friday, October 12, 2012
Photo of Occupy Oakland move in day by Glenn Shoots People, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghalog/6782746241/

Photo of Occupy Oakland move in day by Glenn Shoots People, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghalog/6782746241/

Almost a year to the day after vowing to  conduct a full investigation of police behavior during the Occupy-Oakland related violence on October 25, 2011, the Oakland Police department has issued a report that says that of the 1,1267 complaints made by citizens around Occupy-related events, the City has completed investigation of only half of the complaints.  And among that half, investigators found misconduct by police in 30% of the complaints they researched.

What were the most common types of misconduct? Besides failing to activate a video camera,  excessive force, improper supervision or command, failure to accept a complaint, refusing to provide names when required, and false reporting topped the list.

Occupy Discipline Report 10-12-12- Final

About Susan Mernit
Susan Mernit is the co-founder of Oakland Local. She is also a circuit rider for The Community Information Challenge, a program of The John S and James L Knight Foundation, a popular speaker and facilitator, and a consultant to media, non-profit and community organizations. Susan lives in North Oakland with a rescue dog named Cazzie, a little dog named Violet, a fat grey cat named Gracie, a very cool housemate, and a yard in serious need of soil remediation. She is an aspiring gardener, a long-time blogger & entrepreneur, and a recovering journalist who's found home in Oakland.
SadAboutOakland commented at Fri, 12 Oct at 7:20pm

This makes me wonder what Occupy Oakland could have become if OPD's excessive force haddn't initiated a war between them.

I guess it's fair if OPD is tarnished by this report, because those battles between them definitely destroyed the reputation of what was initially a peaceful and positive movement. 

 

todd fischer commented at Sat, 13 Oct at 2:09am

What Occupy Oakland could have become?  Show me an instance where any of the Occupy camps became anything more than a leach on the city they settled in. Show me a camp where any Occupy group didn't overstay their welcome.