Full Notification

March 8, 2013

To Whom It May Concern,

This letter is to inform individuals who are at risk of being involved in gun violence about the enforcement priorities of the Oakland Police Department (OPD) and our local, state, and federal partners. This letter has been distributed today at locations associated with street groups whose members are suspected in a large number of shootings and homicides in Oakland.

All who reside in Oakland deserve to live in peace and safety. For far too long, too many in this city have been shot or killed. Along with our community partners, we view these victims as members of our community who we want to see alive and free. All of us who value the City of Oakland believe that stopping gun violence must be the top priority of law enforcement.

OPD’s central strategy to reduce gun violence is Operation Ceasefire. Under Ceasefire, partners use data and intelligence to identify those at highest risk for violence. We then use a multi-pronged strategy to engage those at highest risk and help them make different choices about violence. For those who reject the offer to help, the strategy reserves special enforcement attention from OPD, the Alameda County District Attorney, the Unites States Attorney, Alameda County Probation, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshalls Service, Homeland Security, IRS, Secret Service, and other partners. We are all focused on individuals and groups who shoot and kill in the streets of Oakland; this is how we will be working from now on.

You may have friends, associates, and family members who need to know that engaging in gun violence will bring this kind of special attention. If you care about them, you will share this message.


Howard A. Jordan
Chief of Police