Petrelis Files

Oakland Police Don't Control Their Site;

No News Releases Since 2006?

A sunshine advocate and friend of mine asked me this week if I knew what the policy of the Oakland Police Department regarding press passes, and to find some answers, I went to the OPD site.

The public info office's page listed coordinating department press passes as one of its responsibilities, but no further info was given. There was only one link at the page, and it was to recent news releases. The page for OPD releases and advisories was last update in March 2006, more than three years ago.

Yesterday, I emailed Jeff Thomason, spokesperson for the OPD, asking a few questions about all this. His response:

As for the website, the reason it hasn't been updated is that we are in the process of transitioning to a completely new website with the City of Oakland. Our current website is very old and outdated. Also, the Oakland Police Department does not have access to the current website. We will have more access to the new website.

That reply didn't satisfy me, so I sent follow up questions to Thomason and he quickly replied:

Q: Who controls the OPD site now?

A: City of Oakland IT.

Q: Why isn't control with the OPD?

A: The system is very old and we do not have the software or expertise to update it.

Q: Have any news releases been written since 2006 and, if so, where are they posted on the web?

A: Yes, [but] they are not on the web.

Q: Finally, when will OPD have its own web site under its control?

A: Hopefully soon, the Mayor's office is in-charge of the project.

How strange that a major California city's police department is not in charge of its own web site and admits the site is old. I would think, given all the major crimes and longstanding troubled relationship between the OPD and the citizens it serves, that Oakland would do everything it could to use the web to better communicate and interact with the community.

I'm not saying simply posting current news releases and more info on the OPD site is the large solution to myriad problems, but quickly and constantly sharing information could go a very long way to create better policing, maybe even help cops solve crimes.

Oakland recently swore in a new police chief, Anthony Batts, and as the Oakland Tribune has noted, he faces lots of problems, both citywide and within the police force. I suggest he immediately instruct Mayor Ron Dellums to turn control of the OPD web site to the police, give the cops the technical resources necessary to modernize their web site and better communicate with the community he serves.