Calif. Police Department Adds 17 Officers Amid Staffing Struggles

Oakland police added 17 new officers as the department continues grappling with leadership turnover, federal oversight and persistent staffing shortages.

By Susie Neilson

Source San Francisco Chronicle

June 8, 2026

2 min read

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The Oakland Police Department graduated 17 new officers from its 196th Basic Recruit Academy, bringing the department to 621 active sworn officers, with another 37 recruits currently in training.
During the graduation ceremony, Chief James Beard urged recruits to uphold integrity and remember they represent the badge both on and off duty.
The department continues to face longstanding challenges, including federal oversight, misconduct scandals, staffing shortages and findings showing officers of color were more likely to face sustained misconduct findings than white officers accused of similar violations.

Oakland Police Department's graduation class — The Oakland Police Department added 17 new officers during a graduation ceremony that highlighted both the agency’s staffing shortages and its ongoing push to rebuild public trust.

The Oakland Police Department has welcomed its latest class of recruits, adding 17 officers to its ranks.

This latest class, from the 196th Basic Recruit Academy, includes three women and 14 men. With the new recruits, the Oakland Police Department has a total of 621 active and sworn officers, with an additional 57 technically on staff but out on administrative, medical or other forms of leave, bringing the total to 678. An additional 37 potential new recruits are being trained as part of the 197th class.

At a May 29 ceremony at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center, Police Chief James Beere reminded the recruits to perform their duties with integrity.

“In this profession, you always represent the badge, on and off duty. The actions of one individual, no matter how small, shape public perception. Uphold our integrity and honor the badge you now wear,” he said, according to a news release.

The Oakland Police Department has had a troubled recent history. It has spent the past 23 years under federal oversight and during that time weathered scandals involving underage sex trafficking victims, high turnover of senior leadership — including nearly a dozen different chiefs in just 15 years — and allegations of entrenched racism. Among the most recent issues is a departmental analysis finding that officers of color were far more likely to have sustained findings of misconduct after investigations than white officers investigated for similar allegations.

In addition, Oakland has long struggled with disproportionate levels of both violent and property crime, though both categories have waned in the past couple years as crime rates across the nation have declined after the turbulence of the pandemic and immediate years that followed.

These two paradigms have probably contributed to what police representatives say is chronic understaffing of the police department. A report commissioned by the Office of Inspector General and released last June found that to reach optimal size to perform its current workload, the department would have to add 199 officers to its current authorized total.

“Current conditions are not well-suited for long-term safety goals of the City and OPD,” report authors wrote.

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