Officer poll reveals depressed force
Oakland cops report they are demoralized, stressed from mandatory overtime and worried about suicides – two Oakland police officers took their own lives last summer.
A poll of 500 sworn officers in the City of Oakland, California reveal a force that has hit rock bottom in terns of morale. One of the biggest sources, they say, is the lack of support from Oakland PD commanders, politicians and the residents of Oakland.
The poll shows that Oakland officers feel immense frustration as they try and stop crime in an understaffed department while also complying with a federal reform effort.
“The leaders in this Department have to start being leaders,” one officer wrote anonymously. “A better working environment starts from the top down. Our Executive Command staff do not treat people below them with respect or dignity. If you want to change the culture of the Department start with the leaders. We need brand new people at the top.”