Fewer Cops In Oakland Results In 'Brazen' Crimes

Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts is repeating his public call for more officers, after a violent crime spike of "brazen activity" that included the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy in broad daylight.

Chief Batts stepped up police activity in the hours following the fatal shooting of 3-year-old Carlos Nava, which led to arrests of the suspected shooter in Pittsburg and his accomplice later in Las Vegas.

However, the incident is raising concern about the city's high rate of violence in its poorest neighborhoods. Eight of the 35 policing beats account for 92 percent of the city's homicides.

The city now has a violent crime rate that's the highest among California cities with 100,000 or more residents. It also has 1.7 officers per 1,000 residents.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle