As Oakland citizens wrap their heads around the role of police in the community, one local organization is working to improve citizen-police relations through research.

What do Oakland high students think about our local police?  In the spring of this year, PUEBLO - People United for a Better Life in Oakland - distributed more than 800 surveys to local high school students. The surveys were based on an adult questionnaire that was originally given by PUEBLO in 2005. They include questions on the public's experiences with the police like "Would you describe your most recent contact with Oakland police as positive or negative?" Several questions also asked about the public's perceptions of the police. For example, "When you see the police in your neighborhood, what is your first reaction?"

The project was led by Youth Researcher Tamara Lawrence (a Met West High School senior) and supported by PUEBLO mentor Janice Embrey. The data they collected was analyzed by RDA - Research Development Associates - the same firm that the city of Oakland hired to evaluate its violence prevention and community policing programs.

What were the results?  Many of the youth in the survey, especiaqlly African-Americans and Latinos--view the police with unease and fear.

According to Embrey, many youth don't distinguish between different kinds of police. Their impressions and experiences with local, municipal and state police merge together. So when Oscar Grant was killed in 2009, many youth in Oakland experienced it as an Oakland police event - even though it was BART police officers that were involved.

"How can we improve the relationship with the police and these kids?" Embrey asked. The survey analysis has some answers.

For example, the research revealed that there are patterns when youth described positivity and negativity in police experience. Positive themes included when officers listened to youth; gave youth kleenex/water/food etc.; helped to calm youth down; connected youth with other services; and made sure people were safe or appropriately managed dangerous/violent people. Negative themes included when officers handcuffed youth or their friends "for no reason," do not listen to youth, use too much force and lied and/or planted evidence.

"Some models increase violence," Embrey said. "I mean, what adult would not want to be listened to when they are stopped by police? What adult would not want to be respected?"

Study data revealed that most students had no idea how to make a complaint about an officer, whether to The Civilian Review Board or to OPPD internal affairs.

Embrey said she plans to continue her volunteer work with PUEBLO to expand both administration of the survey and its community impact. All of the current participants have been public school students. Repeated attempts to get private schools on board have gone unanswered, but she remains optimistic and will be reaching out to more schools this winter.

She has already met with OPD Chief Anthony Batts and will be working with students at Life Academy High School and the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission to turn the survey results into a series of recommendations for both police and youth.
 
"The kids need to know what triggers a response from the police," Embrey said. "When we talk with kids we tell them, you can't talk to a policeman the way you do to your peers. He's not privy to that camaraderie. The police seem to be at war with the kids. The kids seem to be at war with the police, but they're not really.

"These two are like trains passing in the night. One's looking at it in one direction and one's looking at it from another. How can you tell what's profiling and what's procedure?"
Summary of Findings From the Data Final 2 2


The City of Oakland's Citizen's Police Review Board investigates and hears complaints about incidents of police abuse and harassment. If you have had an incident, you can contact them directly or contact PUEBLO.

PUEBLO helps people in the community in making reports of these incidents, assists in obtaining legal counsel when needed and supports citizens throughout the process.