OAKLAND — Continuing last year’s encouraging trend, violent crime in the city — including homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies and rapes — has decreased 22 percent so far this year with overall crime down 29 percent, police and city officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
Mayor Barbara Lee joined interim Chief of Police James Beere, who also announced a 90-day plan aiming to keep the numbers falling. The moves will include working with other law enforcement agencies and targeted enforcement of illegal activities and known violent offenders.
At a news conference, officials said between Jan. 1 and March 31 there were 14 homicides in the city, a decrease of 39 percent from the same time last year. Assaults with a firearm, which include shootings and physical beatings using guns, were down 17 percent and overall aggravated assaults were down 13 percent.
Robberies were down 30 percent overall, even though there was a slight gain in residential robberies, and rapes were down 50 percent. Reported burglaries were down 54 percent, arsons fell by 56 percent and larcenies were down 26 percent. Motor vehicle thefts, long a problem in the city, were down 1 percent.
Last year, the total number of violent crimes decreased by 25 percent and overall crime dropped 25 percent from 2024.
At the briefing, Beere credited the reduction in crime to the hard work of officers in the department who “are focused on making every neighborhood safe” as well as staff with the Department of Violence Prevention, the support of the mayor and other city officials, and strong community partnerships.
He said, “We recognize these statistics may not reflect the experiences of those impacted by crime and we take that seriously. At the same time, many residents, merchants and even visitors coming to Oakland have expressed how (much) safer it feels.”
Beere conceded that not all crimes get reported, which is a concern because it is that data that is the most reliable for tracking crime trends and how the department responds. He urged anyone who is a crime victim to call police.
The chief also said the department has stepped up efforts along International Boulevard to address human trafficking and prostitution. This year alone, they conducted 66 targeted investigations and more than 81 people allegedly engaged in prostitution activity have been arrested. Besides enforcement, he said, the department has also focused on supporting victims and connecting them with services. These efforts have not only helped us address prostitution, but have also had an impact on other violent crimes associated with prostitution including robberies.
Beere said so far this year, Oakland police officers have recovered over 310 firearms including assault rifles, machine guns, and pistols that can be switched to be fully automatic. “Each firearm recovered means a possible act of violence prevented,” he said.
“We’re encouraged by our progress,” Beere said, “but we still have a lot of work ahead. And we’re going to be committed to building upon those gains.”
Assistant Chief Casey Johnson detailed the 90-day crime reduction strategies.
One is a 60-day “blitz” operation with the FBI, ATF and DEA concentrating on people engaged in violence who are also known to be buying and selling guns. Those arrested will be prosecuted federally. Beere added that the California Highway Patrol and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office would also continue to assist Oakland police in other operations.
Another tactic is to increase deployment of officers at vehicle sideshows; since 2024, officers have seized more than 300 vehicles. Officers will also be focusing on the recent increased activities of dirt bike and ATV riders that have plagued the city as well. The police department has seized 15 dirt bikes and ATVs so far this year, most of them outside the city.
Also, the department will be “ramping up street patrols” to focus on upcoming holidays, such as Cinco de Mayo, May Day and Memorial Day.
Mayor Lee said the “message is very clear that our strategies are definitely working” and crime is trending downward. “But even one act of violence is one act too many. These numbers, however, mean that fewer lives are lost, fewer families are grieving. We will not stop until every Oaklander feels and is safe.”
She said public safety is the city’s top priority and that investments are also being made in prevention efforts, like more job opportunities for Oakland’s youth.
“But let me be clear,” she said. “We’re not declaring victory at all. We’re staying focused. There is more work to do to ensure that every single neighborhood feels this progress, and knows this progress is real. We’re committed to building on what’s working.”