MSNBC:Gunman Kills Three Officers in Oakland

From MSNBC - March 22: Three police officers in Oakland, CA, have been killed after being involved in a shootout with a suspect who had allegedly violated his parole, another officer is in critical condition. (MSNBC)

3 Officers, Suspect Killed in Oakland Shootouts - Video

From AP: Police say three officers and a suspect are dead and another officer is in grave condition after two related shootings, the first after a traffic stop and the second after a massive manhunt ended in gunfire. (March 21)

Oakland Police Shooting: Oakland Is a Dangerous City; Will UC Leave Oakland?

Oakland Police Officers Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, and Sgts. Ervin Romans, 43, and Daniel Sakai, 35, members of the SWAT team and motorcycle officer, John Hege, 41, who is in grave condition, were all shot in the line of duty Saturday.  Dunakin, Romans, and Sakai are dead. 


This is what Oakland Police talk about.  


This is why police take the precausions they do.  It's the heart of what we all fear, both the officers and the people of Oakland.  My heart and tears go out to the slain officers who were serving all of us.  And it's a stark reminder of what I said just two days ago on Christina Marie's show "CrossTalk San Francisco": our society is more dangerous now than ever.  






It's not just the police shooting.  It's the muggings and threats that impact employees at the University of California Office of The President in downtown Oakland.  These incidents are so frequent of late, that U.C.  officials are strongly considering leaving their Oakland headquarters.   For where?  Berkeley perhaps, as their ranks are down to 600 people as of this writing, so with less people finding office space is easier and cheaper than in the past.  As I understand it, for the first time when the matter of the possibility of leaving Oakland was raised, no one contacted within the Office of The President objected to the idea; in the past that was not the case.  


Oakland is at a major crossroads in a terrible economy: new establishments sit in a city with the highest unemployment rate in the Bay Area.  And while crime is reportedly "down" it's still high: there's a report of 30 incidents of theft alone in the downtown area over the past 30 days -- a theft a day -- according to the Oakland Police Crimewatch map.  


And that's just thefts.  It doesn't include other types of crimes.  


Funding is down for all city services, so the ultimate protectors are ourselves.  The best action we can take, and I've said it before, is to know each other.  Know and talk to, and watch out for,  your neighbor.  

Oakland Police Shooting: Statement from City Attorney John Russo on behalf of the Oakland City Attorney’s Office:

Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the officers who gave their lives defending peace in our city. This is undeniably one of the worst days in Oakland’s history.

It is impossible to explain such a senseless and tragic crime. Our police officers risk their lives every day that they are on the job, and we honor them for their service, their bravery and their dedication to Oakland.

The members of the City Attorney’s Office grieve the horrible loss of officers who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our city. Our sincerest condolences go to their families, their colleagues and the entire Oakland Police Department.

John A. Russo
Oakland City Attorney