By Sean Maher and Harry Harris
The Oakland Tribune
Posted: 11/30/2009 04:23:42 PM PST
Updated: 11/30/2009 09:31:09 PM PST
OAKLAND — Oakland officers offered their support and sympathy as the Lakewood Police Department in Washington mourned the shooting deaths of four of their own.
"The members of the Oakland Police Officers Association are horrified" by the shooting, President Dom Arotzarena said in a written statement. "Unfortunately, the loss of four officers is all too familiar to us here at the Oakland Police Department. Our department is continuing to heal from the events of March 21, 2009.
"We have been in contact with our brothers and sisters in Washington. We stand ready to provide any guidance or assistance when called upon."
more at link:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_13895444?nclick_check=1
I was wondering how Oakland LE was feeling after all they had gone through in March. Here is background from Wikipedia for those of you unfamiliar with what happend:
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2009 shooting of Oakland police officers
Location Oakland, California, USA
Date Saturday, March 21, 2009
1:08 p.m. (PDT)
Attack type Shootout
Weapon(s) SKS, semiautomatic pistol
Death(s) 5 (4 officers, 1 perpetrator)
Injured 1
Perpetrator Lovelle Mixon
The 2009 shooting of Oakland, California police officers took place on Saturday, March 21, 2009, when four Oakland police officers were killed by a convicted felon wanted on a no-bail warrant for a parole violation. The convicted felon, Lovelle Mixon, shot and killed four Oakland police officers, two during a routine traffic stop and two when SWAT team officers attempted to apprehend him two hours later. Mixon staged an ambush of the police from his hiding place and was killed in a barrage of gunfire as officers returned fire in self-defense.[1]
The killings made it one of the worst days for law enforcement in California history. It was the single deadliest attack on California police officers since the Newhall massacre in 1970, when four California Highway Patrol officers were shot and killed by two men in the Santa Clarita Valley. It was also the deadliest attack on U.S. law enforcement since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.[2][3] This incident brings to 51 the total number of Oakland police officers killed in the line of duty since 1867.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_shooting_of_Oakland_police_officers
As for them "mocking Lakewood", I would hope it was more concern and disbelief that the officers would have gathered and briefed for their shift in a public place. I don't think any officers would feel safe doing that in many areas of Oakland. Although I know there are some nicer areas also. I used to work in Oakland and the wal from the BART station was a bit dicey, but the downtown business district was nice. Great shopping and restaurants.