Oakland police chief wants youth curfew ON THE EAST BAY

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Police Chief, Howard Jordan and City Administrator Deanna Santana take questions during a press conference on Thursday June 14, 2012 in Oakland, Calif., announcing the findings from a 121 page outside report commissioned into the handling of the Occupy protest from last year. less Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Police Chief, Howard Jordan and City Administrator Deanna Santana take questions during a press conference on Thursday June 14, 2012 in Oakland, Calif., announcing the findings ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Oakland police chief wants youth curfew 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan wants a curfew.

In the widespread absence of appropriate "parental controls" Jordan says a curfew is critical to reduce the risks posed by teens and younger children hanging out late at night in some of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods.

He says he wants to assemble and lead a community-wide effort to get the City Council to pass a curfew ordinance before the end of the calendar year.

"I think we're going to get a curfew because there are enough organizations and people in the community who want an opportunity to step in and help save a kid's life," Jordan said Thursday.

While the details are still in the works, Jordan says he envisions a public-private partnership with a nonprofit group that can provide a facility where curfew violators are processed and await pickup from parents or legal guardians.

"This has to be an effort from more than just the Police Department," the chief added. "I want all the stakeholders there when I make the proposal."

Oakland has seen a 20 percent increase in major and violent crime since the start of the year, and it should come as no surprise that juvenile crimes are rising with it.

Since January, 419 juveniles have been arrested for crimes ranging from auto thefts and burglaries to home invasions, armed robberies and homicide, Jordan said. In some cases, the suspects have been no more than 12 years old.

Jordan described most of the incidents as crimes of opportunity, usually involving two or more participants.

On Sunday morning, six juveniles approached a home in the 3000 block of Broadmoor View. One of them pulled a gun on the homeowner while the others searched the home for valuables. Officers arrested four of the six, three males and a female, as they tried to flee. Two others are still being sought, authorities said.

Youth crime rises

A lot of times, juveniles are also the crime victims.

Through her work with at-risk youth, Olis Simmons, executive director of the city-funded Youth Uprising, thinks Jordan's assessment of a rise in youth crime is spot-on.

"I would agree with the chief, and I think the data will bear it out," Simmons said. "Not only am I seeing an increase in violent crime - I'm seeing an increase in the severity of the violence."

She cited the July 10 shooting death of Hadari Askari, 15, who was gunned down outside the East Oakland apartment complex where he lived with his mother. After his death, a street memorial was the target of drive-by shooters on two occasions, Simmons said.

As a result, the family has waited until Saturday to hold a funeral service for him.

"She wanted to wait until it was safe," Simmons said. "She was worried that mourners would become targets."

Chief needs support

A youth program director, Simmons is typical of the influential community voices whose support Jordan's effort will need to be successful. She remains a staunch opponent of youth curfews.

For years, some Oakland politicians have approved and rejected law enforcement policies on the accepted belief that crime in Oakland was a by-product of social ills that effective programs - and more money - could remedy.

Oakland has sufficient youth programs, but without data that measures which ones work and which ones don't, the only analysis residents can hang their hat on are crime stats - and they don't show significant positive changes or foreshadow an optimistic future.

The Oakland City Council failed to app rove a curfew ordinance last year pushed by then-police chief Anthony Batts. Now, Jordan will look to the council to take action. This time around, they need to get it right.