Local
Oakland reports homicide decline as police staffing remains 276 below audit benchmark
Oakland police say homicides are down more than 20% this year and robberies and burglaries have fallen 26%. The chief also flagged rising larceny and weapon-involved robberies, while the department remains short of the staffing level identified in a recent audit.
Oakland police Chief James Beere said Thursday that homicides in the city have fallen by more than 20% so far this year compared with the same period in 2025. Robberies and burglaries are each down 26%, he said, while larceny and robberies involving weapons have increased.
Beere said the declines reflect cooperation among residents, city leaders and law enforcement agencies. He cautioned, however, that citywide figures may not match the experiences of people who have been victimized.
“For those of us who have been victims of crime, these statistics may not reflect how you feel and how safe you feel,” Beere said, adding that the department takes those concerns seriously. He said many residents have also told police they feel safer.
Staffing remains a challenge for the department. Oakland has 601 officers, while a recent audit found it needs at least 877 to maintain its current level of service — a gap of 276 officers.
The reported drops offer one measure of public safety, but increases in larceny and armed robberies, along with the staffing shortfall, remain concerns for residents and city officials as police work to sustain progress.