Full Notification

Oakland, CA – (July 22, 2014) Thirteen individuals associated with known gang violence have been arrested and charged. This action was taken after a long-term investigation was completed in connection with Operation Ceasefire. Before warrants were served, the Oakland Police Department’s Ceasefire intelligence-gathering unit identified and reached out to members of two identified violent gangs, YNIC and FE, to offer opportunities to change and to underline the negative consequences of continued violent criminal behavior. These groups continued to be involved in violence and as a result they received focused attention from multiple law enforcement partners.

In the early morning of Thursday, July 10, 2014, the Oakland Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, Felony Assault and Gang Unit, and Tactical Operations Team; the Alameda County Probation Department; and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Investigators collaborated with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the Stockton Police Department to serve six targeted residential search warrants at multiple locations. Four of the warrants were served in Oakland and two were served in Stockton.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged 13 suspects known to be active in or affiliated with violent groups and gangs for various serious crimes, including attempted murder, felony assault, robbery, burglary, home invasion robbery, carjacking, possession of illegal firearms, and conspiracy to commit crimes; the charges included gang enhancements.

During the course of this long-term investigation, officers recovered a total of 10 firearms, including one rifle and nine handguns. The 13 individuals arrested were identified as members and affiliates of criminal street gangs who called themselves YNIC and FE. Before the enforcement actions, members of these gangs were contacted through the Ceasefire process and were informed about the negative consequences of continued violence and offered opportunities to change their behaviors.

Chief Sean Whent said, “The success of this operation depended on a coordinated team effort. The hard work and commitment of everyone involved reflects our dedication to reducing violent crime in Oakland.”

“With efforts like these, we are seeing real results from Oakland’s big-picture strategy to reduce violence and crime,” Mayor Jean Quan said. “Over the last year we have seen major declines in most crime rates. Much more work remains ahead, but we are on the right track with our work to grow the police force, invest in community-police partnerships like our Ceasefire strategy, and create jobs for our residents and youths.”

Ceasefire is a partnership-based violence-reduction strategy with nationally proven results. It has three goals: to reduce homicides and shootings, to reduce recidivism among participants, and to improve police-community relations. The Oakland Ceasefire Partnership includes affected community members, community based organizations, social service providers, police and other enforcement agencies. In Oakland, Ceasefire focuses on gangs and groups who are involved in large numbers of shootings and killings in East Oakland as well as armed robberies and violent crimes in neighborhoods across the city. Ceasefire seeks to combine the best of community energies, social services and strategic law enforcement efforts to reduce violence more effectively than these entities are capable of when operating alone. Ceasefire is a multifaceted approach that includes outreach, prevention, and services.

Ceasefire directly focuses on those groups engaged in violent behavior in a number of ways, including call-ins, one-on-one meetings, outreach and support services and, when necessary, collaborative enforcement. At call-in meetings, groups and individuals at highest risk of violence meet with affected community members, service providers and law enforcement representatives, who all communicate their shared commitment to reducing violence and their care and concern for these young men. Among the most important messages is the power they have to make choices. Participants are given information about the consequences, both positive and negative, that their choices bring and are provided the opportunity to step away from violence. Services and supportive relationships are provided for those who wish to receive help. Participants are also informed about the array of law enforcement tools available to police and the potential consequences they will face should they continue to engage in violence. Groups and individuals who continue to engage in violence then receive focused attention from the law enforcement partners.

The Oakland Police Department continues to work in collaboration with our community partners, non-government organizations, and allied law enforcement agencies in our effort to reduce violent crime and positively impact communities.

The Oakland Police Department, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal, will continue our efforts to look for the suspects who remain outstanding.

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