Diversity Within OPD Still Falls Short

Posted in Equal Rights/Equity, Oakland Job Programs, Police-Public Safety

Disparities in hirng of Asians, Blacks and Latinos; Blacks most underrepresented

By Ken Epstein

A new report released by the City of Oakland indicates that the police department is still falling short in efforts to diversify its force of sworn officers.

According to the report released this week and dated Feb. 5, 18.3 percent of OPD’s sworn officers are African American, while 28 percent of Oakland population is Black.

This means that the percentage of African American police officers is 34 percent below their numbers in the population.

Latinos comprise 22.5 percent of OPD officers and 25 percent of the city’s population, a 10 percent disparity, according to the report released by Interim City Administrator John Flores.

Asians, who make up 16 percent of the city’s population, comprising 12.2 percent of the police force, down from 20.9 percent in 2013.

This means that representation of Asians is almost 24 percent below their numbers in Oakland.

However, these disparities in OPD hiring are in marked contrast to data on overall city staffing. As of Jan. 1, 2015, African Americans, Latinos and Asians who work for the city are roughly proportional to their numbers.

African American staff make up 28 percent of employees, the same as their percentage in the city’s population

Latinos comprise 25.4 percent of city workers and 25 percent of the population.

Asians make up 16.8 percent of city employees and 16 percent of the population.

An issue unaddressed by this week’s report is the racial make up of OPD commanders, which has a large impact on power relationships within the organization.

The Post has submitted a Public Records Act request for an organizational chart of OPD management structure and the ethnicity of officers who hold supervisory positions. The Post is also asking for the salaries of sworn officers and city of residence.

“There should be fair representation,” said District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo. “I believe that in each population there are qualified individuals who could take jobs in the city.”

In addition to ending race and ethnic disparities, the city needs to make sure that more Oakland residents are hired for police and other city jobs, he said.

“I grew up in Oakland at time when the police officer lived across the street from me,” Gallo said. “He’s the one who took me fishing and took the kids on the block fishing. Nowadays, so many city employees do not live in Oakland.”

District 7 Councilmember Desley Brooks, who heads the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, says she is seeking information on what OPD can do to improve recruitment of African Americans and other people of color.

“I think it’s important that we have a police force that’s reflective the community that it serves, “Brooks said. “That’s why I asked for a report, and we’re continuing to analyze the issues that are barriers to people getting access to these positions.”