An Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland from the Oakland Police Officers’ Association

[boston bean]

We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

As your police officers, we are confused.

On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor’s Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.

Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in – to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.

To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.

http://www.opoa.org/uncategorized/an-open-letter-to-the-citizens-of-oakland-from-the-oakland-police-officers%E2%80%99-association/

is this for real??

[texanwitch]

1. Trying to cover their ass.

The mayor didn't injure anybody.

She might have given some orders but she didn't do the deed.

[lob1]

7. Neither did Hitler. She's as responsible as the cops.

[xchrom]

2. My open letter: fuck you. Nt

[Ian David]

3. There's a difference between confused and passive-aggressive. n/t

[boston bean]

9. I think that was on purpose and maybe some sarcasm thrown in.

Seems they don't like being used and then tossed away.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It is for real

And believe it or not it is big. The discussion is also happening in police unions.

So you just got a peek behind the blue wall.

[Marazinia]

5. Pretty sure it is

If so, the union should encourage officers to go in uniform with protesters before their shift, after their shift, and on breaks to support the strike, just like the dock workers are being encouraged to do. That would add a pacifying element to police action. Imagine what happens if a cop has to think to herself, "Hey, I've just been ordered to teargas peaceful protesters, and some of my friends are in there with them!"

[pacalo]

6. I noticed there were no comments about the weapons used against the protesters

or about Scott Olsen being seriously hurt. Their main beef is that they are getting mixed messages from the mayor. Why address that to the citizens of Oakland instead of the mayor?

[Maine_Nurse]

8. Probably because the mayor appears to be playing both sides of the fence..

with the police being the pawns this time.

[pacalo]

10. If they do recognize they're part of the 99% & they're fed up, do you suppose they're

on the verge of supporting the protesters? I'm hoping there's something more to this letter than simply a passive-aggressive weapon against the mayor.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Same dynamic, different language

Not to long ago.

[enough]

12. Do they (I'm ASKING) have a legitimate point in saying that their orders have been

ambiguous? I am not defending them. I was "there" so long ago that I have no illusions about the Oakland police (or the police of any other city). But it does seem that the city government has been singularly unfocused to put it politely?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

13. I'm buying it. I think they know that they are getting screwed too.

They are the 99% but they get their orders from the 1%. I'm sure it must be confusing. We need to convince them that we are on their side and they are on ours. Which is the truth.

[firehorse]

14. disingenuous bullshit - they shot unarmed peaceful protestors. They'd probably shoot Ghandi too.

if their police chief ordered it and they had the weapons to do so.

[tama]

15. Open letters are not copyright restricted, so here in full

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland from the Oakland Police Officers’ Association

1 November 2011 – Oakland, Ca.

We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

As your police officers, we are confused.

On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor’s Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.

Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in – to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.

To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.

That’s hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against “the establishment.” But aren’t the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest? Is it the City’s intention to have City employees on both sides of a skirmish line?

It is all very confusing to us.

Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all police officers: Everyone, including those who have the day off, must show up for work on Wednesday. This is also being paid for by Oakland taxpayers. Last week’s events alone cost Oakland taxpayers over $1 million.

The Mayor and her Administration are beefing up police presence for Wednesday’s work strike they are encouraging and even “staffing,” spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for additional police presence – at a time when the Mayor is also asking Oakland residents to vote on an $80 parcel tax to bail out the City’s failing finances.

All of these mixed messages are confusing.

We love Oakland and just want to do our jobs to protect Oakland residents. We respectfully ask the citizens of Oakland to join us in demanding that our City officials, including Mayor Quan, make sound decisions and take responsibility for these decisions. Oakland is struggling – we need real leaders NOW who will step up and lead – not send mixed messages. Thank you for listening.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. Oskiffers...twice in the same day you violently attacked peaceful protesters who gave you zero

reason to do so. You turned part of Oakland into a near war zone. You purposely shot a US veteran in the head at close range. You had purposely infiltrated the protest and perhaps walked them into a trap (video in Political Videos forum).

What part of "Fuck You" do you not understand?

[rms013]

17. Too Bad

So what. You are confused.

Are you confused about the fact that all your fine work to clear the plaza has been for naught?
Are you confused because your desire to "protect" the citizens of Oakland includes beatings, tear gas, flash bang grenades, rubber bullets and bean bags?
Are you confused because when you "evacuate" people from a dangerous situation (like a bomb threat) you can not do it the same way as you "evacuate" the camp of peaceful people?
Are you confused that "just following orders" may involve allowing those people you "evacuated" their first amendment rights which you also tried to deny them?
Are you confused because the Mayor admitted being wrong and acquiesced to the will of the people? The very same people you swore to serve and protect?
I think I know why you are confused...You are confused because your authority has been usurped by the authority of the people. You are used to acting with impunity and the world wants accountability for your actions.

If you were truly confused you would have written this letter before you stormed the camp of the people, because, based on your logic: We have allowed them to camp there and now we are told to get them out.

You may be part of the 99% but you are the tool of the 1%. The tool of intimidation and oppression.


Putting lipstick on a pig (no pun intended)

[EC]

18. Sounds to me like a set-up

I can't see the angle, but there is a reason the mayor is increasing the size of the protest and making all the cops report in too. I'm glad to see the cops questioning this.