STRATEGIC AREA COMMAND ANNUAL REPORT 2007 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 1 - 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 2 - CAPTAIN E. TRACEY The mission of the Strategic Area Command for 2007 was to use the resources to strategically address community priorities and emerging crime trends. Emphasis was placed on “wrapping” resources around the Problem Solving Officer and the level of responsibility and accountability of the Police Service Area (PSA) Lieutenant. The primary goal of the Division is give its members the authority, training, and tools to perform problem-oriented policing and to hold them responsible for a high level of performance. The following units fell under the umbrella of SAC this year: • Police Service Area Lieutenants • Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) • Problem Solving Officers (PSO) • Traffic Section • Special Events Unit • Tactical Operations Section • Alcohol Beverage Action Team (ABAT) • Foot Patrol Unit • Crime Scene Technicians • Canine Program • Police Reserves • Gang Unit • Parole and Corrections Team (PACT) • Air Support Collectively, these units did an outstanding job in the areas of community policing, traffic enforcement and crime suppression. Through the excellent work of the men and women of SAC along with others in the department, some areas in the city saw dramatic decreases in Part 1 crime (See report for PSA 3 and 5). STAFFING SAC has benefited from the assignment of officers under Measure Y. While the Department has struggled to increase overall staff, it has maintained its commitment to Measure Y by assigning 40% of the officers who complete field training to assignments as PSOs in SAC. These new assignments have had collateral effects on other parts of the Department and Division. While PSO staffing has increased, staffing in other major SAC units such as Traffic has decreased. In mid year, the department’s Special Operations Group (SOG) was disbanded. The Targeted Enforcement Task Force of the group was moved to the Homicide Section of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). The Gang Unit along with the Parole and 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 3 - Corrections Team along with the commander of the group (Lt. Darren Allison) were moved into the Special Operations Section of SAC. SAC differs from the rest of the Department in how it deploys officers under the current system of mandatory overtime. Unlike the rest of the membership which is required to “sign up” for open shifts once every three weeks, SAC uses mandatory overtime to strategically deploy officers. These mandatory deployments are used to address significant problems that cross PSA boundaries. Some examples of those problems include: • The reckless driving, exhibitions of speed, violent crime, unlicensed operation, and DUI commonly referred to as the “Sideshow.” • Prostitution along the International Blvd. corridor • Street robberies • Traffic and unruly behavior in and around Jack London Square and the “Uptown” nightclubs • Quality of life issues such as gambling and public drunkenness along the arterial roadways • Open-air drug markets SAC also organized and commanded seven Major Response Operations in 2007. These operations brought all of the Department’s available sworn staff to address problems associated with significant holiday weekends. Although expensive, the operations were successful in preventing the serious crowd management and crime problems that had plagued the City in years prior. In August of 2007, Captain David Kozicki was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief and assigned to oversee the Bureau of Field Operations. Lt. Edward Tracey (PSA 3) was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned to the Strategic Area Command. Position Authorized Actual Captain 1 1 Lieutenant 8 8 Sergeant 24 21 Officer 149 125 Total 182 155 FISCAL MANAGEMENT SAC has coordinated a number of grants. The specifics of the grants are outlined in the report. The grants have been used to offset overtime costs and purchase necessary equipment. These grants include: • California Office of Traffic Safety annual and mini grants • Weed and Seed grants 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 4 - SAC is also tasked with the implementation of the Violence Prevention and Public Safety Initiative also known as Measure Y. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funds have been expended to purchase vehicles, laptop computers, and other equipment for the new PSOs assigned under measure Y. See individual unit reports for breakdowns on all fund budget. TRAINING At the end of 2007, SAC was in substantial compliance with training mandated under the Negotiated Settlement Agreement. SAC has also been able to send members to specialized training. Examples of that training are: • California Narcotics Officers Association • The High Sierra SWAT Challenge • The Grass Valley SWAT challenge • Drug Recognition Expert Training • Undercover Investigations • The FBI National Academy • Verbo Judo • Dual Purpose Motorcycle • Asian Gang Investigations • Woman in Law Enforcement • Police Bicycle Training • Total Station / Map Scenes • Suicide Bombing • Human Trafficking • Traffic Investigations • Basic Motorcycle • NIMS • Prison Gang • Helicopter Pilot Recurrent • Tactical Commanders • Oracle (Commanders) SAC has also put on some special training courses for members and employees. During 2007, SAC hosted several Division wide training where members received training on tactical house entries / searches, traffic stops, use of force reporting and walking stops. See individual unit reports on training details (subject, personnel trained). 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 5 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS The men and women of Strategic Area Command worked hard in 2007 to lower crime rate as well as to improve community relations. Following are examples of programs and projects produced by SAC personnel: • S.A.R.A (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment) project at 4601 Park Blvd (PSA 3) resulted in the closure of a drug house that was creating an assortment of issues for this otherwise quite neighborhood. • Problem Solving Officers along with Crime Reduction Teams from District 3 started a parolee compliance project. Approximately 15 operations were conducted over the course of 11 months resulting in 40 compliance checks with 15 arrests and 10 guns recovered. • Problem Solving Officers teamed up with Neighborhood Services Coordinators to close down a long time problem liquor store (Plucky’s) in PSA 5. • Neighborhood Services Coordinators worked closely with community members in a letter writing campaign to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office resulting in several additional judges being appointed to our local courthouses to expedite criminal trials. • Operation “Piece Out” – an intense federal narcotics undercover operation incorporating SAC personnel along with DEA agents that resulted in: o 16 wall stops o 20 felony narcotic possession arrests o Recovery of over 46 ounces of heroin, quantities of cocaine and marijuana • Your Black Muslim Bakery – SAC personnel played a large part in the take down of this criminal enterprise. This operation encompassed over 200 OPD personnel along with eight different SWAT teams from the county. Once the search warrants were conducted and criminals arrested, Problem Solving Officers followed up by working with different city agencies to permanently close down the bakery. This property has since been sold and positive neighborhood businesses are now occupying it. 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 6 - VISIONS AND GOALS FOR 2008 In January 2008, the Strategic Area Command was separated with the Crime Reduction Teams and Problem Solving Officers moving under the three Area Captains. The remaining resources are now under the newly created Support Operations Division with Captain Ed Tracey serving as the commander. The goals for the Support Operations Division: • Obtain 100% compliance with all Negotiated Settlement Agreement Tasks. • To provide effective and efficient support to Area Command and its efforts in crime fighting. • To enhance the department’s ability to effectively respond to major catastrophes as well as terrorists related incidents. 2007 Strategic Area Command Annual Report - 7 - Police Service Area 1 SUMMARY In February 2005, the METRO (Downtown Oakland) and West Oakland were combined forming Police Service Area 1, commanded by Lt. Paul Berlin. Although now combined, each district remains distinct with each other with regards to the type of crimes, density and quality of life issues. Henceforth, this report will combine the year’s activities and successes of PSA 1 during 2007 and their goals for 2008. The Downtown/Metro has a unique mix of government, business and high-density housing. The Metro consists of police beats 1X, 3X, 3Y, and 4X. The following boundaries define the Metro. The western border is the east side of Brush Street, the northern border is the south side of W. Grand/Grand Ave., the eastern border is the middle of Lake Merritt, the last street being Fallon Street, and the southern border is the middle of the estuary, the last street being Water Street. PSA 1 has owner occupied/rental housing, businesses, industry, warehouses, PORT of Oakland, Army Base, Public Housing (OHA), Transition Housing (Parolees returning to civilian life), “Section 8” housing and warehouses converted into living spaces. PSA 1 consists of police beats 2X, 2Y, 5X, 5Y, 6X and 7X. The following boundaries define PSA 1; the eastern border is the west side of Brush and MLK, the northern