In his first press conference as the newly minted Oakland police chief, Howard Jordan acknowledged a recent spate of shootings in the city, and said he needed the community to help stop crime.  Standing alongside a table strewn with illegal guns his officers had confiscated, Jordan blamed much of the violence on conflict between two rival groups in West Oakland and two additional groups from other parts of the city. ......

The city of Oakland has decided it no longer needs help from a private security firm to guard against potential Occupy Oakland encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza. The Oakland Police Department said Monday that the city had terminated their contract the firm that had been patrolling the plaza in front of City Hall. As Oakland Local first reported Monday, the city decided to severe its agreement with VMA Security early, ......

A man employed at Otaez Mexican restaurant, whose owner was killed in an unsolved robbery earlier this year, was shot in the neck Monday night. According to Oakland police, the man was in his car about 10:23 p.m. when a single gunshot struck him in the neck. Officer Johnna Watson said the man was in stable condition at the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The department has not identified suspects or made ......

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and City Administrator Deanna Santana have decided to appoint an independent investigator to evaluate the department's use of force in responding to Occupy Oakland protests, the mayor's office announced Tuesday. Quan and Santana plan to announce more details at a news conference Wednesday morning, alongside police Chief Howard Jordan and "members of the investigation panel." Several Oakland police commanders and the Citizens' Police Review Board are already ......

Measure I, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's proposed parcel tax, failed to pass in a special, vote-by-mail election. Sixty-two percent voted against the measure, which would have given the city an additional $60 million per year. Quan unveiled the measure in April as one of the pillars of her comprehensive plan to shore up the shrinking police department and restore city services. But early on, likely supporters backed off the initiative, ......