By Jennifer Inez Ward

Seven weeks after first clashing with Occupy Oakland demonstrators, a recently released memo from Oakland Police reveal that the department continues to approach the actions of the movement on a case-by-case basis and does not have a new set of directives from City Hall on how to respond to possible confrontation.

The memo states that while OPD is conducting  a series of reviews on its past actions connected to the Occupy movement, it continues to wait for a long term policy on political demonstrations.

"The city should also determine how it plans to address large scale marches and on-going efforts to “occupy” public and private property," OPD Deputy Chief Jeffrey H. Israel wrote in a Dec. 6 memorandum. "These incidents require resources well beyond OPD and a more detailed review will be productive."

As Occupy Oakland demonstrators today begin participating in an action to shut down major ports along the West Coast, close attention will be paid to the Oakland police response to protests planned at the Port of Oakland. The Oakland police and city officials have been heavily criticized for many of the tactics deployed by police during clashes with Occupy demonstrators.

The three-page memo written by Israel is a formal request for conducting a "Major Incident Board of Review" for those previous Occupy incidents, including the OPD's Oct. 25 action of pepper spraying demonstrators.

In the memo, the deputy police chief touches on past OPD actions connected to the Occupy Oakland movement.

Israel wrote that with the arrest of 100 demonstrators on Oct. 25, "There were incidents of level II uses of force such as less lethal (bean bag). Chemical munitions (tear gas) were also deployed after suspects repeatedly threw projectiles at officers from the kitchen area. The less lethal and gas deployment effectively stopped suspects from assaulting officers so that arrests could occur without further danger to police officers. No injuries were reported related to the uses of force."

The memo does not give specific details about what led up to the deployment of tear gas and bean bags or who gave the order to do so.

Since that first clash, there were six major police Occupy "operations" conducted by OPD, including during the Nov. 2 General Strike. Still, City Hall has not presented a road map for Oakland police on how it would like to see the department conduct itself with demonstrators.

"These six operations should be more thoroughly reviewed beyond what is common to a Force Review Board and misconduct investigation in order to assist the department and the city in its efforts to address civil disorder and large scale protests where some participants engage in criminal activity," the memo states.

According to Israel, the memo was submitted past its policy due date because, "I was not aware of the
requirement to prepare this memo until I was notified by the Office of Inspector General that it was requested via a public records request."

In the last few days, the Oakland Police Department has publicly released audio, video and dispatch printouts connected to its Occupy Oakland actions. The Dec. 6 memo from Israel was released to Oakland Local in response to a Freedom of Information Request.

**This article is part of 'Oakland Inside,' a continuing investigative news series that examines the inner workings of Oakland City Hall and explores accountability issues. **