Full Notification

Oakland, CA —Today, Oakland Police Chief Sean C. Whent was joined by California Highway Patrol (CHP) Golden Gate Division Sector Chief Teresa Becher and Assistant Chief Paul Fontana, Acting Commander Steve Larson of the Oakland Area CHP, Olis Simmons of Youth UpRising, Pastor Rufus Robbins of Evergreen Baptist Church, and other community leaders to announce the joint OPD-CHP response to recent “sideshow” activity in the City of Oakland. As events of the past weekend have shown, sideshows are inherently dangerous because of their association with violence and illegal activity.

At the press conference, Chief Whent shared his strategy on how he will address sideshow activity in Oakland, which is based on:

• Enforcement
• Community involvement
• Education

Chief Whent said, “Beginning immediately, officers will be on hand at likely and potential sideshow locations to intervene, interrupt, and prevent continued sideshow activity.” The Chief stated that this enforcement activity will be coupled with important community support, education, and collaboration.

Brief comments from community partners supported the Chief’s position. Olis Simmons of Youth UpRising spoke briefly about the volatile nature of sideshows and the need for young people in Oakland to have access to positive activities, especially over weekends. Ms. Simmons stressed the importance of beginning a Citywide conversation regarding safe alternatives to sideshows for youth. Youth UpRising and OPD have successfully worked together in the past on sideshow issues.

Mr. Norris Shepherd, a citizen from the Las Palmas area, where the most recent sideshow occurred, expressed his concern for the danger that sideshows bring to the community and the negative impact they have on business revenues.

Chief Whent thanked the men and women of OPD for their hard work every day and the men and women of the CHP, “excellent partners in addressing violence on Oakland streets,” and said that he looks forward to working in partnership with the CHP to address the sideshow problem.

The OPD-Youth UpRising video, “Reality of the Sideshow” is accessible at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWrAr0mX_Qs. It can also be seen on the OPD website, www.oaklandpolice.com.

For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at (510) 238- 7230 or [email protected]. Visit Nixle.com to receive Oakland Police Department alerts, advisories and community messages, or follow OPD on Twitter, @oaklandpoliceca.