James Beere

Oakland officials introduced a multi-agency security plan involving police, highway patrol, and sheriff's departments to address late-night violence during the First Fridays festival. The initiative includes increased staffing, drone monitoring, and collaboration with the Department of Violence Prevention to tackle traffic violations and unauthorized youth gatherings. Business leaders, including Fox Theater manager Tony Leong, had urged the measures, while festival director Venessa McGhee expressed concerns about the event's future due to prior incidents.

The Oakland Police Department graduated 17 new officers, increasing the total to 621 sworn officers, though this remains below the city-funded 678 positions. Federal oversight of the department is expected to end in September after the department met court-mandated recommendations from a 2000 case.

Nine people were arrested and 77 ATVs and dirt bikes seized after a wild takeover shut down traffic on the Bay Bridge in California. The Oakland Police Department worked with regional partners to safely coordinate arrests and vehicle seizures. The takeovers have become a regional problem, with multiple incidents occurring in recent months.