4 Officers shot and killed in a deadly shootout

I heard about this through the local news. In San Jose, here in quiet suburbia, we had consistently been the safest "big city" (500,000+) in America. With a population of a little over a million, we are behind a couple cities of 75,000-300,000 in safety.

But, 60 miles to the north, lies one of the most dangerous cities in America. All of my short life, I have grown up hearing about drive-by's, murders, robberies, and gang fights in Oakland. Imagine Compton, South California, but with a larger population.

As an avid teenager sports fan, I have been to every Bay Area team, the 49ers, Sharks, Giants. However, my parents absolutely refuse to take me into Oakland to see the A's, Raiders, and Warriors. Just trying to emphasize how bad crime is in Oakland, and how it can scare an entire county (or two).

As a community, as a country, we owe it to the law enforcement, who is the line between civilization and barbarism. It saddens me greatly to know that people so excellent are losing their lives to protect us, who take them for granted.

This is to those who call the cops "pigs", who stage riots, and get drunkenly violent. You do NOT know what they do for you, and for us. You don't deserve their protection, but, they give it to you anyway. They, in so many tragic moments, give their lives to protect the right to yours. So be thankful.

 

That's all I ask for.

A friend of mine is a Firefighter in San Jose. And Sharks all the way! As for Oakland, you just gotta look out for things. I got to A's and Raider games every year. The area McAfee is in is not a bad area, but if you go over the 73rd St. bridge, that's where the bad area starts. People only read about the bad stuff that happens in a city, and automatically think the city is bad. A city is not bad. Areas within a city maybe. It's just like San Francisco. People think the whole city is "gay" when it's not. It has a "gay" district yes, but the whole city is not "gay".

 

Oakland is not as big a hell hole as the media seems to make it.
Its got a great downtown and the Oakland hills have homes that would compete with some of the estates found in Malibu or Hollywood hills. There are a few blocks that aren't very inviting and probably should have no business being on, just as most major metropolitan areas do.

What happened in Oakland, could happen in any major city.

 

of course, Oakland is a city, and all cities, for the most part, are cities. There are only districts where crime is a big problem, and there, it is a big problem.

 

What happened in Oakland can happen anywhere. The last time 4 officers were killed in the line of duty was in 1979 I believe with the California Highway Patrol in Southern California.

 

That is no excuse.

 

I havent been down in West Covina in some time. But it's good knowing that they're risking their lives to protect the city and the city's people.


It's not an excuse, it's a fact. Anything could happen anywhere at anytime.

 

When the safety of a city is mentioned, it does all work out to just how "big" it is, and numerous other factors. Employment abilities, and proper housing, are just a couple that spring to mind.

Here is Billings MT., we are always a bit "shocked" when either homicides or forcible (not statutory) rapes occur. According to the crime stats we are a pretty safe place to live, in cities over 100,000. We just make the cut (125,000), but the numbers are compared at that level, i.e. "per 100,000" so that removes the difference in how they are inturpreted.

Goto:

Crime Report for Billings Montana

 

Today, at 1100 hrs Pacific Standard Time, there was a funeral for those fallen Police Officers, so people and the families could say their final goodbyes. 18,000 People attended the service, which was held at the Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors. 15,000 of them were Police Officers from around the world. Some Officers drove by car, some drove by motorcycle, and some flew. All 843 Police Officers from Oakland Police Department were in attendance. Police Officers from around the state came to Oakland to fill in for the Officers.

I will post a news cast of the funeral once it's available. For now, here is an 8 min. 48 sec. video as a memorial. YouTube - Oakland Police Memorial Tribute Video - r.i.p. - YouTUBE Rev 1