Preventing robberies, sideshows, and sex trafficking will be focus of Oakland police during Super Bowl LX

Extra officers from the Oakland Police Division might be deployed all through the town this weekend as Tremendous Bowl LX attracts giant crowds to the Bay Space.

Whereas Sunday’s massive recreation between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots is being performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, OPD officers might be patrolling main group occasions and business corridors in Oakland.

In line with Interim Police Chief James Beere, the division will give attention to suppressing robberies, stopping sideshows and imposing intercourse trafficking.

Throughout a information convention at OPD headquarters Tuesday morning, Beere mentioned further officers might be stationed round Lake Merritt, the Uptown and downtown business hall alongside Broadway, and the 18th Avenue and Telegraph Avenue space. OPD’s Particular Operations Division may also be deployed all through the town, together with the ARGUS helicopter, site visitors enforcement unit, particular weapons and ways crew and undercover officers.

“There aren’t any particular threats to the town of Oakland at the moment,” he mentioned. “Nonetheless, we’re conscious of what’s occurring within the nation and all over the world, and at any time when you’ve gotten an enormous occasion there’s all the time potential for that.”

OPD may also function a cellular command publish on the NFL’s official Super Bowl viewing party and fan zone on the Henry J. Kaiser Conference Middle.

Up to now this 12 months, OPD has arrested 37 males on suspicion of involvement in intercourse trafficking, both as consumers or exploiters, Beere mentioned. All of the arrests happened alongside “the Blade,” a stretch of Worldwide Boulevard in East Oakland identified for business sexual exploitation. Beere famous that 65% of these arrested had been from neighboring cities or villages.

In anticipation of elevated demand for sexually exploited youngsters and adults throughout Tremendous Bowl weekend, OPD will deploy further undercover officers.

“The message is: Should you’re coming right here to have a good time the Tremendous Bowl and take part in events and festivities, and also you suppose it is a good suggestion to drive to Worldwide and choose up a prostitute, take into account that it is in all probability an undercover police officer,” the interim chief mentioned.

Officers may also patrol the Lake Merritt space with a give attention to stopping theft and unlawful all-terrain automobile and filth bike exercise.

In response to issues about OPD’s ongoing staffing shortages and whether or not there might be satisfactory protection in Oakland, Beere mentioned his division is utilizing additional time and “maximizing the assets we’ve got as responsibly as doable.”

Beere reiterated that OPD doesn’t cooperate with federal brokers on civil immigration enforcement.

“Now we have no indication or any info that leads us to consider that they are going to be right here in Oakland throughout Tremendous Bowl weekend,” Beere mentioned, referring to brokers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Company.