"We Are Confused" - An Open Letter To Citizens Of Oakland From The Oakland Police Association (And Response)

Letter from the Oakland Police:

Source

1 November 2011 – Oakland, Ca.

We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

As your police officers, we are confused.

On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor’s Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.

Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in – to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.

To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.

That’s hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against “the establishment.”

But aren’t the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest? Is it the City’s intention to have City employees on both sides of a skirmish line?

It is all very confusing to us.

Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all police officers: Everyone, including those who have the day off, must show up for work on Wednesday. This is also being paid for by Oakland taxpayers. Last week’s events alone cost Oakland taxpayers over $1 million.

The Mayor and her Administration are beefing up police presence for Wednesday’s work strike they are encouraging and even “staffing,” spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for additional police presence – at a time when the Mayor is also asking Oakland residents to vote on an $80 parcel tax to bail out the City’s failing finances.

All of these mixed messages are confusing.

We love Oakland and just want to do our jobs to protect Oakland residents. We respectfully ask the citizens of Oakland to join us in demanding that our City officials, including Mayor Quan, make sound decisions and take responsibility for these decisions. Oakland is struggling – we need real leaders NOW who will step up and lead – not send mixed messages. Thank you for listening.

---

Response to the Oakland Police from an anonymous commenter:

Let me make it crystal clear.  The people and vets are absolutely livid because your actions were not the actions of law abiding civilian law enforcement.  Your people acted like ruthless mercenaries playing Rainbow 6 on civilians with less-than-lethal rounds at a standoff distance that you know damn well is easily deadly.  Your tactics were dangerous, and completely against any recommended use of those non-lethals you were deploying.  If CS gas was absolutely necessary, you had no business delivering it in 40mm launchers, it should have been under-hand thrown, and kicked down the line... then flash bangs!  What the f**k!!  Seriously?!  It was completely clear on the video your last priority was public safety.  There were no paramedics standing by to take away anyone injured, and I didn't see any one of your cops so much have a twitch of compassion when several non-combatants were injured on the ground.  None of you are f**king spec-ops operators, and I guarantee anyone in the military who is/was and heard you trying to portray yourself as super soldier wouldn't do you the favor of pissing on you if you were on fire. 

You know what, f**k all of you motherf**kers that took part in that operation.  The only problem is that this mayor doesn't have any metaphorical balls.  Because if I were mayor, I'd cut the real balls off of every officer that fired a shot on that line, fire them, prosecute them and make them say a public apology on TV to the citizens of Oakland, starting with the chief of police.

You give good cops a bad name and put the public in danger.

Protecting the citizens... bullshit.

---

Dear Oakland Police - You Have No Power! 

"You have no power. Your uniform has the power. Take your uniform off. Where is the power?"

"You are being employed to animate that uniform which is an extension of the state and that's all you are. Therefore you are expendable."

"While you give your soul away, while you give your mind away, while you give your morals and decency away, advancing this fascist dictatorship you will be ok with the facsists you are serving."

"But your children and your grandchildren have to live in the world you are creating. One day you are going to have to understand that, and I don't envy you the moment when it dawns on you, because it's going to be horrific, the world you've actually created."

"The people in uniform, the dark suits that administer the system, while not being the originators of it, they have to start breaking ranks. Ok? Get some backbone, open your mind, look at what's going on."

"Get some frickin' backbone before you administer, impose, and enforce a world that will be grotesque for your children and grandchildren, in fact not even that, for yourself."

Comments

[Justin]

Touche!

[john]

first off these oakland cops don't give a damn about their kids future, their only concern is the money thay get now, so i say ...REVALOUTION

[Mike in Tokyo Rogers]

Police hypocrites! Unless you police are all stupid, you know exactly what is going on here. You are being used as tools for the state. Like someone else said, you are expendable and will be disposed of by the people who pay you (citizen or government) unless you stand up for what's right. You knew damn well that people have the right to peaceful demonstrations in this country, yet you followed an illegal order and committed felonious acts against unarmed and peaceful citizens.

Resign immediately or get on the right side of this protest. No man can serve two gods. There is only one truth and lawful way... So far, you have failed miserably.

[Rich Cream]

Key word: skirmish

[J]

Key word #2: Flanking maneuver

Flanking maneuver beats skirmish line every time.

[Michael French]

Not all cops are bad, I hear that a lot. It's a hard job I hear that too much too. So here is the idea if you are not a bad cop tool of the money junkies, then show us that you are human and arrest the bad apples. In a public way that humiliates them. And then start arresting those who caused this crap. Otherwise guess what you are one of the bad cops, deal with it.
For the people out there start protecting and serving yourself, we cannot rely on anyone else, who would want to anyway? Stand up and say no more and mean it.

[Polly]

oh, so now you're afraid that we will come after you.....so now you feel 'confused'......because we WILL come for you.

[kcb]

Sic Semper Tyrannis!

[the 99]

So you know it's better to play the victim then play the fool. There is blood on your hands. You are guilty.You will be held accountable.

[Tom Spellman]

And what would have been so hard to tell folks to wake up and take down their tents and move on. Then one by one pick up those resisting arrest and remove them No BEATING NO TEAR GAS Just what would have been so difficult??? How do you expect people to respond to you if you BEAT THEM and snear at them and all the rest????? Peace Tom Spellman

[TC]

In my opinion you carried out your duties, which breaks your oath you took, with ethusiasm, now your confused, you really are part of the 99%, but if your not part of the solution you are protecting the problem, i always wonder how an american can do this to another american, we all are brothers and sisters.

[I'm not confused.]

You are not innocent if you let a 'brother cop' half kill someone who was unarmed and not aggressive.
You are not innocent if you don't arrest this 'brother cop' for attempted homicide.
You are not innocent if your only defense is "I was just following orders.'
You are not innocent for standing back and doing nothing when a citizen lay broken and bleeding.
You are not innocent among your peers.
You are not innocent among the people.
You are not innocent before any god I know of.

I'm not confused, I see you.

[Paul]

There's nothing to be confused about. Yopu guys crossed the line - again. This time you may have murdered a vet. Veterans all over America know you did it. Some may be thinking of payback. Confused? Don't be. It's simple. You betrayed your neighbors, your friends and your peers.

[Yvon jr]

All the worst evil tyrant in history, were, only, because they add brainwashed or just plainly, stupid people like most cops and soldiers I see in America these days.

[dogismyth]

I have a problem with all authoritarian entities...including cops.

[alive and aware]

Occupy Washington Spring 2012

[Stealth]

Cops don't protect anyone, nor do they prevent crime. They show up afterwards, or in some cases, go to great lengths to make sure a crime is committed (see the traffic stop).

A necessary evil if there ever was one.

[f8te]

What he said!

[Will Davis]

Were the cops that joined the protesters as agent provocateurs also "just confused"? And was the Chief of Police who wanted the planted police agent provocateurs to get the protestors to "do what we want them to do" confused also? Some of you officers may have been confused, but you didn't challenge anyone. You didn't protect the people protesting on your behalf as well as mine. You just didn't do the right thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrvMzqopHH0&feature=player_embedded

[JL]

Most cops today, not all, but most, were abused as children, have some major anger issues and are not happy people. Compound that with steroids, meds, wife beating, stress and you have the ingredients for a very, very dangerous psycho.

[me]

The Oakland police (and most other police) are state sponsored terrorists, just like the kind of people that nailed Christ to the cross!

[S. Gompers]

To the Oakland Police ASSociation;

You are not the 1%, and your actions prove you are not the 99%. You are vermin, a plague on this land representing tyranny and lack of freedom.

Don't worry about your budget, you can go to the precious criminals you serve to make your budget in the black again. But you might want to get off the taxpayers dime, it might be construed as a conflict of interest as you are executing orders from the criminal elite while you are abusing the taxpayer who currently pays your pathetic salary. After all, what is a badge anymore, even I can buy one...

But I would hate to impersonate a "peace officer" like you little Fascist pigs are wearing your little Girl Scout uniforms and victimizing a veteran who fought for your right to live free of terrorism while you have been plotting a little terrorism of your own.

You had a choice, to arrest the thieves, or arrest those who were stolen from...

Try not to be confused, look in the mirror at yourself.

I bet you cannot wait to get down there and beat the f@ck out of your fellow city workers. The bankers will make your "budget" whole by raising fees on the rest of us, right? and those of you who will lose your jobs for your crimes will surely find lucrative jobs in bank security.I hear Whackenhut, and Securitas will start you out at $9.00 dollars an hour, but you won't get to wear your frilly little Girl Scout uniforms any more. Just a plain old uniform with yet another store bought badge...

You showed no confusion in your willingness or ability to bear arms against your fellow citizens. With "friends" like you, who needs to worry about Al Qaeda. You made your choice, just as many Germans followed "orders" at their jobs at the death camps.

I am now going to suggest you review the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor;

On my honor,
I will never betray my badge,
my integrity, my character,
or the public trust.
I will always have
the courage to hold myself
and others accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the constitution
my community and the agency I serve.

http://www.theiacp.org/PoliceServices/ExecutiveServices/ProfessionalAssistance/Ethics/WhatistheLawEnforcementOathofHonor/tabid/150/Default.aspx

You are a disgrace.

[Cheyenne]

"I will always uphold the constitution"

This is essentially the same language in at least 3 separate oaths that Mr. Obama has sworn to as a condition precedent to taking holding various offices: first as an officer of the court in Illinois, next as a member of the House of Representatives, and finally as President of the United States. Moreover, there can be no argument that Obama didn't understand what the constitution means since he has a record as a professor of U.S. constitutional law.

And yet, this Executive in Chief ordered the assassination of a U.S. citizen (Mr. Awlaki) without a trial and indeed without any evidence at all--and over the objections of legal counsel whose offer to represent him was summarily rejected. Does Obama not understand that the "presumption of innocence" means that one is not guilty until so proven by a court of law? Of course he does, and yet this scholar of the constitution publicly orders its desecration anyway.

Concurrently with this, of course, Obama flatly declares that no crimes were committed on Wall Street, only to have the Jon Corzine/MF Global case blow up practically under the podium Obama stood on to issue this demonstrably false and absurd decree--with no comment whatsoever on this glaring and embarrassing contradiction by the media.

This is a long way of saying: the rot extends to the very top and throughout the mainstream media.

The Oakland police press release is the latest in a long series of surreal manifestations of what a country without the Rule of Law can--and will continue to--look like.

[RM]

When the REAL revolution comes, I wouldn't want to be in a police uniform.
(Your neighbors know who you are with that patrol car out front)

[Eric Deichman]

To the Oakland Police and all federal, state, and local law enforcement:
The Constitution of the United States was written specifically so that all citizens could read and understand it, at least on a basic level. You took a vow to defend and uphold the constitution. This includes a legal obligation to refuse to obey illegal orders. The constitution is the supreme law of the land. No federal, state, or local ordinance takes precedence. A patriot understands this and takes it seriously. A disposable idiot does not.
When Marines saw what happened to Scott Olsen, they knew what they were looking at: the absence of the freedoms that they believed they had just spent the past 10 years defending. The fastest way to out a fascist is to make them act like one.
If you haven't read the constitution, please do so. America desperately needs patriots. We have enough idiots!!

[Real Negotiator]

Now on to the East Coast:
OCCUPY Miami BISCAYNE BAY Sat 11-11-11 at 11:11am at 11 Island Ave Miami Beach, FL
http://11-11-11.im

[confused too]

Confused? No surprises there then. I find that suppression of my conscience and reasoning mind leads to a state of confusion too.

[chiller]

Quan's handling of the protesters is in line with communist Chinese thuggery and the way they mercilessly use violence and extreme aggression against its people. This is the best Oakland can do for a mayor?!?!

[dr mengle,got twins?]

MAYOR QUAN IS CLUELESS ...AND IT SEEMS SHE STILL THINKS SHES LIVING IN CHINA..SHE WAS BORN HERE SUPPOSEDLY...THE POLICE FARCE OF OAKLAND SHOULD BE SENT TO AFAINISTSTAIN.. ..WHERE THE TALIBAN COULD PLAY GAMES WITH NO FRONTIERS ON THEM...YOU AINT SO TUFF WHEN SOMEBODY IS SHOOTING BACK AT YOU WITH LIVE ROUNDS..RIGHT PIGS?

[BostonBakedBean]

It's not confusing at all. The 1% ELITE have given the orders to set up and try to start a new Civil War so Marshall Law can be invoked, the Presidential Election and the Constitution suspended so our Dictator can disregard his oaths for the continued benefit of the Corporations to make more profits, not pay taxes and be totally exempt from any criminal prosecutions for destroying our once great Republic. It's all part of their New World Order and the military and police forces are their hammer to institute it. Once they are done with you, they'll bring in the foreign enforcers to enslave you also. Any Questions?

[Miguel Grande]

The police showing confusion at this point will just trigger a NATO intervention. The police can just go home because they are no longer needed. Oakland will tap into your pension fund to pay the mercenary horde. Please turn in all of your badges and weapons because you are no longer a privileged class.

Have you noticed that the NATO troops no longer wear the baby blue helmets of peace keepers. They now wear the official NAZI olive drab in their conquest of Libya.

99%
TOO BIG TO FAIL!!

[NiteMAYOR]

************************************************************************************************************
- Why do you hate being filmed when you are working?
Is it because someone will have evidence of your "Good" work?
or is it that you "Know" that you are in the wrong?
- You like to hide behind your badge, - but Why do you not display you badge numbers?
- is it because you are afraid of being identified?
- Where is "bravery" in hiding behind shields and having batons
to beat up women, kids and anyone else that gets in your way?

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING, IS WRONG!
ALL YOUR ACTIONS PROVE THIS!
***********************************************************************************************

[William]

If you are "confused" LEAVE. If you don't know what you are fighting for ..... STOP FIGHTING.
MERCENARIES kill for no reason other then money.
AMERICANS fight for freedom, liberty, and rights, or they DO NOT FIGHT.

[Irish Spring Ivory Soap]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-usa-protests-oakland-idUSTRE7A06KH20111103


Twitter is maxed out....

[Mike]

The system is completely broken and has terminal levels of corruption from the uniformed pig on the street all the way up to the president! It is one's choice to recognize these jackbooted thugs and consent to their authority. DO NOT CONSENT TO THEIR AUTHORITY!! That is your choice and your right. To be privy to the law is to consent to it and consenting to today's laws is synonymous with enslaving yourself for the benefit of the 1%! The entire political structure of this country has to be gutted and re-established. The federal reserve must be dismantled and sent down the sewer pipe, forever! Fractional banking will always be a way for slimy banksters to set up their maniacal ideas of taking everything from everyone and it must be eradicated from society! Career politicians have absolutely nothing to give to the world except their bullshit theatrics they play for their constituents, whom are laughed at by these useless paupers. The lobby must go as well. It gets the paupers in pocket and drives the nation's agenda; It's time to reboot the f#$%ed up system and for all to start governing their own lives!

[SuperSerious]

Its about time for another Rick Santelli "Water Drinkers(99%) against the Water Carriers(1%) video. He is a hero around here, right?f

[Cheyenne]

Heroes are for mouth-breathing TV watchers who cheer for bailout apologists like Sarah Palin intermittently between hits on their medically subsidized inhalers, so no.

Santelli's principal utlity lies in exposing the advancing mental retardation of bailout apologist Steve Liesman.

[mmdccbslm]

so they weren't confused. they were just taking an opportunity to attack the mayor politically, then get back to their hateful, violent and mercenary ways. whoodathunkit.

[Inurface]

WOW, must say, very well stated.

[DailyBail]

Santelli's principal utlity lies in exposing the advancing mental retardation of bailout apologist Steve Liesman.

---

Amen.

[Epiphany]

Typical of the "Brown Shirts" logic to assume that because some people in the past, at riots and protests caused damage that everyone, forever, must be judged the same as those people. Cops love to find people guilty, despite the fact that is not their job. Clearly, based on their letter here, they profiled people. And we all know how cops treat people they profile...poorly. They don't love Oakland. They love the power rush of wearing a uniform that grants them power over citizens. They love the over-time pay that protests bring, and they love to go undercover and plant themselves amongst the protesters, like they are Special Forces undercover ops infiltrating an Al-CIAda cell, so they can make peaceful protests into physical confrontations with the uniformed cops, so the uniformed cops can get their jollies firing their weapons. And it seems to be the wet dream of all law enforcement goons to try and cause pain, suffering, injury or death. Why else instigate confrontations with undercover operatives planted with the protesters? Why else fire 40mm grenades directly at protesters rather than underhand throwing them? Why else fire so-called non-lethal ammunition at known lethal ranges? The cops have their Thin Blue Line because they perceive everything as US vs Them. Which means they don't do what they do for our benefit. They do it for their own gratification. The cops might not understand, but we the citizenry surely do.

[Toecutter]

When an instrument (the police) of de facto government shed their uniform, that is the color of law, during political upheaval and or revolution, in attempt to conceal themselves among the populace as though they are innocent and also victims and are of the class they have betrayed, is the highest of treason.

You will have nowhere to hide.

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

[Fragile Habitat]

It would have been so simple to not have the intense weapons that the Police carried to the protests. They were equiped to fight a war, not simply keep peace or protect the demonstrators or protect property or non-demonstrators. They were ready for a fight and had a blank check on the use of force. They used the same tactics of an invasion by a foreign enemy on these Americans who were armed only with the Constitution of the United States. All they had to do was to show up without the military shields and simply be there in presence, if the demonstrators got out of line, so be it. Only when force was shown against the police and I mean real force like a personal attack on a police officer should they have used force. They started it and now look at it. Mayor you are fired!

[Texas Dar]

Does Obama not understand that the "presumption of innocence" means that one is not guilty until so proven by a court of law? Of course he does,

Obama has been gromed sence the early 70's to be the New God of the world.......There just aint no way this guy see's the Law, that pertains to him. BHO's best friend is the EO, to scoot around all the laws of our once great country.

In BHO's mind, God will ask the questions..................."The Wizzered of O Bama Oz" will have any answers God may have.....!

Next Question, God.....? Fuck America, I Piss On Them Stupid People....! They do what I tell them to till I stomp on them........................

[john [snip]]

Another vet beaten and then denied medical attention for 18 hours...

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/oakland-police-strike-army-ranger-with-nightsticks-on-his-back-ribs-shoulders-and-hands-lacerating-his-spleen-and-causing-internal-bleeding-then-deny-him-medical-treatment-for-18-hours.html

[Mark Twain]

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8419771

Second Vet almost killed by Oakland PD. Denied medical care for 20 hours. Called a "heroin addict" by jailers while
suffering from a shattered spleen.

[Cheyenne]

john--

Saw that horror story this morning. Initially I wondered if the Oakland PD was under orders to do whatever it takes to provoke a violent response from people on the side of #OWS. But after noodling on it a bit and talking to a few people, it appears more likely that these so-called police "officers" are typical of the Oakland PD (and their frat brothers in L.A.).

The cowards in blue are doing their masters no favors, only entrenching a resistance that deepens and grows by the hour now.

[john]

Cheyenne, I absolutely agree.

[smells like bacon burning]

pick a side pig, youre either with us, or against us

[john]

Bacon, don't fret as I can confidently say most of them are with us and they are just as tired of the bullshit as the rest of us. Admittedly they do have a shitty job at times and (a bunch are corrupt) but they are not financial experts (as they all well know) and are not trained to enforce white collar crime (which is at best legalized anyway) Cut them a little slack and I am sure the favor will be returned.