Apr 11, 2008 7:47 pm US/Pacific
Oakland Police Department Graduates 28 Cadets
OAKLAND (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP) ―
The Oakland Police Department took a big step toward its goal of achieving full staffing levels by the end of the year, with the graduation of a class of nearly 30 cadets Friday.
Being a police officer is a second career for some new officers, like a 39-year-old named Melissa, who was a flight attendant for nearly 20 years.
"Being able to talk to people, I mean, that's huge," she said of her earlier career proving helpful in this new line of work. "I think if you can relate to people and it's not scary for you and you're comfortable doing it, I think you can do this job. The rest of it comes with training, you know, the tactics, the firearms and all the other safety stuff. But I think you have to be good with people."
As one of 28 new officers, Melissa is hoping her first assignment will take her to the gang-plagued area of West Oakland, though she is ready and willing to be deployed anywhere.
This graduating class brings Oakland's total staffing to 757, on its way to a year-end goal of 803 officers.
"The long-term issue, while it's getting to 803 is important, staying at 803... that I think what the city wants and we're still working on how we're going to do that," offered Oakland police chief Wayne Tucker.
There have been 38 homicides so far this year in Oakland compared to 28 at this time last year.
Another graduating class is expected to produce about 30 officers in July.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
