City of Oakland California

I’m Captain Darren Allison, and I command Area 1. I’ve had a close relationship with folks in Area 1 since I was a sergeant working in North Oakland, and I appreciate how supportive they are of the Department. We get our fair share of crime here, but the community is very good. They work closely, not only with each other, but with OPD.

I joined the Department in 1994, and most of my career has been spent in field operations:

• Police officer - Worked in the Community Policing Unit and on the Crime Reduction Team (focusing on street violence, drug dealing and gangs).
• Sergeant - Supervised officers in Patrol, the Crime Reduction Team and Criminal Investigations Division.
• Lieutenant - Commanded Special Operations officers assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration and Targeted Enforcement task forces; Police and Corrections and SWAT teams; and Gang, Fugitive, Air Support, Marine and Canine units. Additionally, I was assigned to the Office of Inspector General and Internal Affairs.
• Captain - Served as Citywide Watch Commander before being assigned to Area 1.

I attended the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

(photo: M. Silvia)

If you run into problems using the site, or if you have suggestions to improve it, please contact Sylvia McDaniel, Technical Communications Specialist, at smcdaniel@oaklandnet.com. Please cut and paste the URL of the problem page in your message, so that she can see what you see.

—Captain Allison

On this page, you will find:

• Contact Information
• News & Updates
• Good Work & Captain's Tips
• Area 1 Photo Album

Area 1 is home to West Oakland, North Oakland and downtown Oakland. The area includes Oakland City Hall and the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Jack London Square, the Paramont and Fox theaters and the Temescal and Rockridge districts. The Port of Oakland, Chinatown, Montclair and the Oakland Hills and the Prescott-Oakland Point of West Oakland are also in Area 1.

The Community Policing Beat map of the City shows Area 1 in tan. You can enlarge the map to read street names.

As part of Oakland's community policing program, Neighborhood Services Coordinators (NSCs) are assigned to each of the 53 community policing beats in Oakland. They help residents work together and in partnership with the Police and other City departments. NSCs make sure that Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils are effective. more> 

Area 1 Neighborhood Service Coordinators

Use the NCPC map of the City to find what area and beat you live in. You can enlarge the map to read street names.

The Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting schedule has details about when and where the NCPCs meet.

The Case

On May 3rd at 4:30 P.M., Oakland Patrol Officer Malcolm Miller responded to 6338 Valley View Road on a report of trespassers inside of an unoccupied home.

Officers on scene recovered two van loads of items believed to be taken from homes in Oakland, Piedmont, Orinda, Berkeley, and Kensington. Recovered items include personal documents, televisions, computers, tools, and jewelry.

Although OPD has been able to return some of the items to victims, many more are still being held. The police have no leads for these items.

Can You Identify Your Property?

If you recognize any property shown in the following documents as yours, you may claim it. You must have:

• A police report from the relevant city
• Serial numbers for the merchandise
• Receipts for merchandise

If you do not have serial numbers or receipts, you must have another way to prove ownership, such as a photograph of the property.

This property may be claimed up to June 30 by contacting PSO Trent Thompson at TThompson@oaklandnet.com.

After July 18, all unclaimed property from this case will be moved into the Property and Evidence Unit.

Click on the following links to look for your property:

• Artwork & Knickknacks
• Books
• Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Identification Papers & other documents
• Jewelry Boxes
• Miscellaneous
• Purses & Backpacks
• Tools
• Watches

The April 15, 2011 Quarterly Community Policing Report is now available. This report, prepared by Resource Development Associates, evaluates the progress OPD has made in re-launching the Measure Y funded community policing program.

On June 2, 2010, Superior Court Judge Freeman ordered an injunction to disrupt the operations of a violent criminal enterprise in North Oakland. The injunction is focused on stopping the violence in our community while giving those responsible an opportunity to leave the criminal life. It restricts the operations of specific gang members within a geographically-defined "Safety Zone": about 100 blocks in North Oakland, bordered by Berkeley, Emeryville, I-580 and Telegraph Avenue. (Map of Safety Zone, right, by SF Chronicle.)

The injunction imposes the following restrictions on 15 adult gang members: 

• Do not associate with other enjoined gang members in public.
• Do not confront, intimidate or assault witnesses.
• Do not possess firearms or dangerous weapons.
• Stay away from drugs.
• No trespassing.
• No gang recruitment.
• Follow time restrictions (10:00 pm to 5:00 am).

Gang members who are subject to the injunction against the North Side Oakland criminal street gang are pictured below. If you are aware that any of them is violating the injunction, call the Police Department at 510-777-3333.

Please remember that it is possible for members subject to the injunction to be within the Safety Zone without being in violation of the injunction. More information is available on the City Attorney's website. (Or go directly to the page concerning the North Oakland gang injunction.)

Marcelus Collins		Derris Dillard
Brian Downing
Darrel Easley		Donta Easley
Tyrone Elebeck		Tyrone Jackson
Chanzae Johnson		Roy Johnson
Anthony Smith		Lucious Taylor
Yancie Young

Robbery Prevention Tips

Safety Tips: Avoid Being a Robbery Victim is a handy flyer with many personal safety tips. Print out your own copy and use it! This flyer is also available in Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese:

• Safety Tips: Avoid Being a Robbery Victim - Chinese 中文
• Consejos de Seguridad---¡Evite ser víctima de un asalto!
• Personal Safety Tips: Avoid Being a Robbery Victim - Vietnamese tiếng Việt

Personal Safety Brochure

Personal Safety: Do You Have a Plan? is a handy brochure with many personal safety tips. Print out your own copy and use it! This brochure is also available in Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese:

• Personal Safety: Do You Have a Plan? - Chinese 中文
• Seguridad Personal - Tiene un plan?
• Personal Safety: Do You Have a Plan? - Vietnamese tiếng Việt

Identity Theft Brochure

Find out what you can do to protect yourself from identity theft and cyber crime - and what to do if you have been a victim and what to expect from OPD. The Alameda County Identity Theft Council has created Have You Been a Victim of Identify Theft?, a helpful brochure with tips for dealing with identify theft.

OPD is teaming up with the Identity Theft Council, a non-profit group of identity theft and security experts who volunteering their time to provide free assistance to identity theft victims locally. You can contact this group by phone, 1-888-771-0767 or email them at support@identitytheftcouncil.org.

Lt. Meeks
Theft Section
jmeeks@oaklandnet.com
510-238-3951

Crime Prevention Flyers

Messages from Lieutenant Meeks, OPD Theft Section

• Avoid Becoming a Victim of Fraud
• How Can You Be Sure You Can Trust Your Housekeeper?
• Prevent Pet Theft
• Auto Theft Prevention Tips
• Tips to Prevent Car Theft
• About Elder Financial Abuse

Go to the Area 1 Archives page to find out about the good work your officers have done earlier this year.

Crime Prevention Tips 

• Residential Burglaries: Don’t make it easy for the burglars.
  • Please lock your doors and windows. Our analysis of residential burglaries indicates a significant number of entries are made through unlocked doors and windows.
  • Also, keep the area around your residence free of clutter or objects that burglars can conceal themselves with or use to climb into your house.
• Robberies: Street level robberies are crimes of opportunity. Robbers look for citizens who are not paying attention and can be easily victimized. Pay attention to your surroundings and don’t be distracted (by talking on cell phone, using iPODs and other small electronics, etc.). The Crime Prevention Services and Self-Protection: Avoid Becoming a Crime Victim pages provide excellent personal safety tips. You can also download our personal safety brochure for more tips.

Neighborhood Watch, an Excellent Community Program

Do you have Neighborhood Watch in your neighborhood? If not, I strongly encourage you to participate in this program. It is an excellent way to bring your neighborhood together and to partner with your police department to reduce crime. The Neighborhood Watch Coordinator is Ms. Brenda Ivy. Her phone number is 238-3091 and email is bivey@oaklandnet.com. Go to Neighborhood Watch for additional information.

—Captain Allison