Oakland has laid off 80 cops because of the budget crisis

[lunatica]

Here's a partial list of things the Oakland Police Department
will not respond to because of it:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Suffer-These-Crimes-in-Oakland-Dont-Call-the-Cops-98266509.html

    * burglary
    * theft
    * embezzlement
    * grand theft
    * grand theft:dog
    * identity theft
    * false information to peace officer
    * required to register as sex or arson offender
    * dump waste or offensive matter
    * discard appliance with lock
    * loud music
    * possess forged notes
    * pass fictitious check
    * obtain money by false voucher
    * fraudulent use of access cards
    * stolen license plate
    * embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
    * extortion
    * attempted extortion
    * false personification of other
    * injure telephone/ power line
    * interfere with power line
    * unauthorized cable tv connection
    * vandalism
    * administer/expose poison to another's



Oakland talks break down; layoffs for 80 cops
Police union rejects city's counteroffers on pension
contributions, job guarantees
July 14, 2010

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-07-14/news/21982318_1_union-s-attorney-officer-layoffs-union-leaders

Oakland laid off 80 police officers Tuesday after negotiations
between city officials and union leaders failed on one simple
matter: job security.

The police union demanded that the city guarantee that its
officers would not be laid off for three years in exchange for
giving up some pension benefits that would have eased the
city's budget problems.

City leaders, however, said it would have been irresponsible
of them to agree to protect police jobs for more than one year
because the city's budget problems are likely to worsen.

The layoffs are believed to be the first for Oakland police
officers in at least three decades. Oakland officers warned
that the layoffs would imperil the city, which has
California's highest violent crime rate. 

[Ezlivin]

1. Apparently you're safe as long as joint isn't hanging from your lips

The smell of marijuana would be reason to roll out the entire damned SWAT team, I'm sure.

[RoccoR5955]

2. So they are going on strike, without actually going on strike

If they will not answer these calls, what the heck are they doing, going for donuts?

[RoccoR5955]

3. Since crime has gone down, why do we still need so many police?

There are laws in some states that prevent them from not doing their full job. I keep hearing how crime is going down, so why do they keep asking for more police?

[lunatica]

4. The subject is not that police are added. It's that 80 were laid off

I live in Oakland. This is of great concern to me.