UCOP maintains an active role in the Oakland and Bay Area community, including membership in the Bay Area Council — a nearly 80-year-old nonprofit organization that includes more than 330 of the region’s large employers. The Council works to make the San Francisco Bay Area the best place to live and work by identifying challenges facing the region, promoting collaboration and driving the implementation of strategic policy solutions. President Drake participates on the Council’s Board of Directors.

On President Drake’s behalf, Associate Director of Security Services Martin Ticas attended a Bay Area Council Public Safety Initiative meeting in downtown Oakland on March 18. The initiative is working on restoring confidence in the safety of downtown business districts, neighborhoods, transit systems and other public spaces throughout the Bay Area. This meeting was focused on downtown Oakland and featured Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Interim Oakland Police Chief Darren Allison and representatives from several downtown Oakland businesses. UCOP was in attendance to reaffirm its commitment and advocacy for creating a safer downtown Oakland workplace environment.

Mayor Thao and Interim Chief Allison reported that overall crime has decreased this year in several areas, with decreases of 16% in robberies, 29% in thefts, 49% in commercial burglary and 43% in auto burglaries.

UCOP was also pleased to learn that this decrease in crime is due to infrastructure and programs the city has implemented and enhanced to make the downtown and uptown areas safer. Highlights of these efforts include:

• An overall increase in the number of police officers and safety ambassadors — now more than 700
• Brought back Oakland PD foot and motorcycle patrols throughout business areas during the day
• Additional auto patrols from Oakland PD, Alameda County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol
• Installation of 300 cameras in business areas to aid in identifying and apprehending offenders is underway
• Special focus on reducing vehicle “smash and grab” break-ins
• Supplemental assistance from California Highway Patrol officers, who are focusing on sideshows, dangerous driving and encampments
• Reimplementation of the Oakland Ceasefire strategy, which creates opportunities for offenders to get out of the cycle of criminality

On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office also announced the state’s plans to install 480 high-tech cameras throughout the East Bay to enhance public safety.

Substantial decreases in Oakland crime have been recently highlighted in the local news — on March 22, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Oakland’s substantial decrease in car break-ins; earlier this month, ABC7 news reported that enhanced cooperation between local law enforcement agencies led to 168 arrests and the recovery of 360 stolen cars in Oakland and the East Bay.

“Because the people who commit crimes in other areas of Oakland likely commit crimes downtown too, these arrests are steps in the right direction to mitigate the activity that adversely impacts our UCOP staff and others who work downtown,” explains Martin, drawing on knowledge gained through his experience as captain of the Foster City Police Department.

“The safety of our staff will always be a top priority for UCOP, so we will continue with our current security measures. Additionally, we will continue advocating for making downtown Oakland a safe place to work and play,” he says. “We appreciate the efforts of Oakland’s Mayor’s office, the Oakland Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the downtown Oakland businesses for partnering with us to address the current safety issues. I also want to send special thanks and kudos to the UCSF Police Department for stepping up and supporting our UCOP safety measures. It’s good to have them here.”

About

View all post by