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Oakland Police Seeking Public Input On Anti-Crime Strategy

OAKLAND (KCBS)— The Oakland Police Department is making a new commitment to share timely crime information with the community. At a town-hall meeting at Castlemont High School, police gave people an in-depth look at their new community-policing strategy.

Part of that effort includes making sure people know when the understaffed department makes arrests.

Police Chief Howard Jordan said one thing his department is placing an emphasis on is making sure the public knows when important arrests are made.

"We have been criticized in the past, and rightfully so, that we do a terrible job of telling our positive stories and the only people that will be able to fix that is the police department," Jordan said.

People at the meeting broke up into smaller groups to share their thoughts and concerns about public safety.

OPD Vows To Gain Public's Insight To New Anti-Crime Strategy

Some questioned the need for a large number of police officers at the scene of single incidents, while others said they just don't trust the OPD, calling the new policy a 'cease fire, round up' and lock up without the opportunity for jobs.

City leaders have vowed to continue to get the public's input as they move forward with their new anti-crime strategy.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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