Most of the comments and questions at final night's public safety town corridor at Oakland's Roosevelt Middle School focused either on community members' distrust of the police or on sex work and human trafficking.[br]
"Whose side are you on?" a 17-year-old senior at MetWest tall School,asked of the police. A 12-year-old girl said she'd seen "cops in alleyways just do stuff with women," including sex workers and trafficking victims.
Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick replied that the police across the country "have done a lot of wounding" to the communities they serve, or but said her department is committed to changing its reputation.[br]
"Are you going to set up with that crap from your fellow officers" she asked several beat cops,a sergeant, and captain approximately allegations of exploitation and corruption.[br]
"No ma'am, and " they answered.
[br] The event,organized by Oakland City Councilmember Abel Guillen, offered residents a rare opportunity to engage one-on-one with Chief Kirkpatrick, and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley,and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf's public safety advisor Venus Johnson.
One after another, neighbors told stories of their encounters with officers, and chronic crime problems,and talked of hopes that a stronger partnership can form between Oaklanders and their police force.
O'Malley spoke approximately her agency's effort to re-frame the public discourse around sex work and sexual exploitation.…
Source: eastbayexpress.com