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3w ago

Oakland Reinstates Police Cadet Program With $900,000 From Kaiser and PG&E

City leaders cast the revived program as a locally rooted pipeline to raise academy success rates.

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Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee speaks at a press conference announcing the reinstatement of the Oakland Police Department Cadet Program at Oakland City Hall. 
Dante Green, Kaiser Permanente senior vice president and east bay area manager, speaks at a press conference announcing the reinstatement of the Oakland Police Department Cadet Program at Oakland City Hall.
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Overview

  • The donations will fund nine paid cadet positions over two years, with money earmarked for wages, training, equipment and other essentials.
  • The cadet pathway targets college students ages 18 to 21, offering part-time experience to prepare them for OPD’s academy and public safety careers.
  • Interim Chief James Beere put OPD’s current sworn headcount at 619 against a budgeted target of 687, while an independent analysis recommended 877 officers.
  • OPD recently graduated 14 recruits, has another academy class set to finish in May, and is running a reintegration course for up to 12 former officers looking to return.
  • The police union praised the restart but warned it does not solve the immediate shortage, urging near-term steps on pay, benefits and working conditions as only 490 officers are operational.