Full Notification

The Oakland Police Department has fielded several questions regarding the detention of two citizens on July 31st near the intersection of 14th Street and Broadway. Understanding the concern, and that concerned citizens do not possess all information relating to incidents and the cause for detentions, this Nixle alert is being sent to the proximate community to address the incident.

On July 31, 2012, at 7:22 PM, an Oakland officer was on patrol and received information from a concerned citizen who reported that they had witnessed two individuals exhibiting a gun in the area of 14th Street and Broadway. The concerned citizen provided description of two African American men, with one of the men described as having dread locks and the other wearing a blue polo shirt. The officer advised OPD dispatch communications center of the information received from the citizen, and alerted officers of the potential danger of the two men described and who were reportedly armed with a gun in the area of 14th Street and Broadway. The area of 14th Street and Broadway is a targeted, intelligence led enforcement spot due to the occurrence of approximately 10 crimes involving firearms in the last 30 days.

At 7:29 pm, officers observed two individuals matching the provided description in the 1400 block of Broadway. Based on the information provided by the citizen, and the potential danger of one of the men being armed with a gun, officers drew their weapons, and safely detained the men for further investigation. At the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, it was determined the two men were not in possession of a gun or involved in a crime as reported by the citizen. The two men and were subsequently released.

Although onlookers accused the officers of conducting the detention in an arbitrary manner, the Oakland Police Department is committed to ensuring public safety and took the required course of action to safely conduct the detention and ascertain the citizen's claim of criminal activity; we will continue to recognize and respect the rights of our citizens as we strive to gain community trust in a professional and ethical manner.