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Oakland officials are making safety a top priority.
According to NBC Bay Area, Mayor Sheng Thao is working closely with the local Police Department to put together a plan to improve safety in Oakland. For one, they plan to support small businesses and local residents by putting police officers back on foot to patrol the streets and shopping districts. Units will reportedly begin patrolling next week.
“Obviously, we can't cover all districts," said Acting Police Chief Darren Allen. He hopes to increase foot patrol units as the department continues to grow.
Mayor Thao also acknowledged that a safer Oakland will not happen overnight and expresses the need for support from "violence prevention organizations, community leaders, regional partners."
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