Trump claims Oakland crime is out of control. But crime has fallen this year

President Donald Trump announced On Monday he locations the Washington DC police beneath federal management and makes use of the Nationwide Guard as a part of a harsh motion in opposition to crime within the district.

Trump claimed that crime within the capital of the nation acquired out of hand, close to a latest alleged assault on a former worker of the so -called Ministry of Authorities Effectivity. In a strolling speech, Trump additionally complained about different main American cities that he accused of getting crime issues – together with Oakland.

“After which after all you’ve Baltimore and Oakland. We do not point out that anymore, they’re so distant,” Trump stated.

Trump’s claims about DC which might be tormented by crime are usually not mirrored within the figures: the crime proportion of the district fell at the lowest levels In additional than 30 years in 2024, in response to an announcement by federal prosecutors earlier this yr.

The alarming tone of the president about Oakland doesn’t mirror the truth both. Crime statistics present a extra sophisticated picture.

Final week, seem announced That whole crime in Oakland fell by 28% within the first six months of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final yr. In keeping with OPD’s most recent dataThere have been 41 murders in Oakland in comparison with 54 final yr, which represents a lower of 24%.

The Division additionally reported vital double digits in studies of worsened assaults, rapes and robberies. And town has obtained fewer studies from sure actual property crimes in the identical interval, together with a 46% lower in automobile thefts.

That is in accordance with a development that began in 2024, as a result of murders and shootings fell on account of percentages with double digits.

The lower within the violent crimes reported by declining is according to different giant cities which have seen a return to pre-Pandemic ranges, Including a few cities That Trump concluded in his speech. Oakland skilled a rise in sure crime classes in 2023, which helped to feed the recall campaigns that ultimately eliminated the previous mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Lawyer Pamela Value.

Mayor Lee claims credit score for the lower in crime

Lee, who was sworn in on Could 20, solely has a direct phrase in regards to the public security technique of town for slightly below three months. However in a press launch on Thursday, the mayor of the mayor said about “nice success in decreasing crime.” The identical launch additionally claimed that Lee’s “efficiency corresponds to and the nationwide tendencies” about decreasing violent crime.

Lee has persistently spoken about an intensive strategy to public security that features investments in Overs and the Division of Violence Prevention. She stated that the prevention of sideshows, eradicating deserted automobiles from the streets, and coaching packages for employees are different steps that may enhance the protection and high quality of life in neighborhoods in Oakland.

Final week the mayor referred to as the anti-gun violence program and it referred to as it a ‘essential’ a part of the Metropolis’s Crime and Prevention Technique. In the course of the press occasion on Thursday, Holly Joshi of Violent Prevention famous that the re -implementation of this 2024 program was an vital transition level for Oakland, however that town couldn’t know the precise influence till evaluators give an evaluation within the coming months.

The mayor additionally identified the budgeting of Oakland for 678 sworn law enforcement officials, who’s lower than the 700 imposed by measure NN, a package deal tax accepted by Oakland voters final yr to finance public security. Lee has promised that Oakland will attain the 700 quantity as a part of a ‘multi-year obligation’. It’s a downside that in reality fills budgeted positions with brokers that metropolis leaders have been lacking for a very long time. By one Recent reportOpd has solely 655 positions which might be stuffed by sworn officers. And the working power of the division from the tip of July was 521 as a result of 104 staff have medical or administration depart.

In the course of the press convention, Lee praised the leaders of the general public security of town and stated that the information exhibits that Oakland is heading in the right direction “however our work is much from.”

“We’re not going again,” stated Lee. “We proceed to construct on this basis till each resident feels protected of their group.”

Can residents Oakland belief -crime knowledge?

Police chief Floyd Mitchell acknowledged throughout the press convention that some residents are skeptical in regards to the metropolis’s crime knowledge. Final yr, media gross sales factors Reported problems With Opd’s crime statistics that Doubt about their accuracy. Mitchell insisted on residents and corporations to proceed to report all crimes, whatever the seriousness, so onto patterns and tendencies can higher determine.

Mitchell stated that the mayor emphasised the necessity for metropolis leaders to speak extra about crime knowledge and the strategy of town for public safety to “deal with notion and the sensation of crime.”

“We wish folks to know that though we’re a serious metropolitan metropolis and there can be a sure stage of crime, crime is falling, folks begin to really feel protected,” Mitchell stated, including that it will take time.

Mitchell additionally praised the success of OPEN in bettering the pace that 911 calls are answered. In keeping with the chef on common 73% of the 911 calls at the moment are answered inside 15 seconds, in comparison with 50% for a similar interval in 2024. The usual of California is 90% of the calls which might be answered inside 15 seconds, of which Mitchell stated he’ll attain self -confident Oakland.

Lee’s 10-point plan For what she is going to obtain within the workplace in its first 100 days, contains guarantees to fulfill conferences with OPT and managers to develop public security methods in business corridors and public-private initiatives. However on Thursday, Lee additionally shared that she had preliminary discussions with native officers – together with Senator Jesse Arreguin and supervisor Nate Miley – about making a regional ‘public security gang’. It’s unclear what that may imply.