Oakland PD can't chase smash-and-grab offenders due to absurd “nonviolent crime” laws

Image by Paul Sullivan

Since Oakland's airport-adjacent In-N-Out closed its doors over increased crime (cue Hunger Games' death cannon for another lost tribute local retail establishment), Bay Areans have branded the area America's “most dangerous square mile.” But who, or what, is the real culprit? Daily Mail reports that City officers are curbed from adequately protecting residents, thanks to nonsensically “restrictive” policies.

'We are f***ed,' an exasperated police officer candidly declares as he patrols a Chevron gas station in Oakland, California, during the morning rush.

The spot is one of three gas stations that surround Oakland Airport and which have become notorious for vehicle thefts. Within a single square mile, cops claim criminals strike a dozen times or more per day, every day, mainly targeting victims who are headed to and from the airport.

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But the officer, who's picked up an overtime shift to keep watch and act as a deterrent, wasn't just referring to the theft epidemic when he made the strikingly blunt assessment.

He was referring, in his words, to the 'restrictive' policies passed by city and state lawmakers which mean police officers can't even pursue the thieves because smash-and-grab theft is a 'nonviolent crime'.

'We can't do a car chase on nonviolent crime,' he told DailyMail.com from the seat of his police cruiser. 'I can go behind the cars and try and turn on my lights, but why would they stop?'

Suspects are aware of these policies and it means if they flee at speed, police often won't even follow. This cop is simply there to try and prevent crimes taking place. …

[T]he officer outside the Chevron who delivered the frank 'we're f***ed' assessment - said that years of progressive policies have caused a decline in safety and made it harder for police to do their jobs.

'It's sad. This city is falling apart and if you ask the community, is the city getting worse?' their answer will probably be yes,' he said. The officer said he wasn't authorized to speak out, but commented off the record because of his frustration.

'If you look around this area, just like San Francisco downtown, stores are closing.

'The common denominator for it is the rising crime all the leaders in this city are allowing this to happen by making policies that restrict the police doing their work.' …

The solution, according to officers on the ground, is to abandon the progressive legislation which has curved their powers.

'It's a social experiment and it's not working,' one said. 'Why don't we stick with things that work?'

This article originally appeared in the Daily Mail. Read the whole thing here.

Related:

• Oakland PD study: Homicides skyrocket after funds redirected to gentle “public safety programs”

• Oakland's lax drug and encampment laws propagated dystopian “land of milk and fentanyl”?

• LAPD case study: CA must reform police forces, not incapacitate them

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