Oakland Police Respond to Inquiries About Boston Marathon

The Oakland Police Department, like everyone else in the law enforcement community, remains extremely concerned with the developments in Boston. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the City of Boston, Marathon participants and spectators, and their City’s first responders. Although we have no reason to believe that there is a threat in or to Oakland, we have taken a few steps to help ensure that our present level of safety is maintained: 

- Our on-duty personnel have been advised of developments and news reports in Boston in order to heighten our situational awareness; we continue our information sharing with state and federal law enforcement partners as we do on a day-to-day basis 

- We will have a more visible presence than normal at our major sporting events this evening, and are coordinating collaboration for enhanced security measures or needs with the BART Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, and local commuter ferry services 

- As for our community, we offer the same advice on vigilance as found at the FBI’s site,http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/help-prevent-terrorist-attacks 

Surveillance: Are you aware of anyone video recording or monitoring activities, taking notes, using cameras, maps, binoculars, etc., near key facilities/events? 

Suspicious Questioning: Are you aware of anyone attempting to gain information in person, by phone, mail, email, etc., regarding a key facility or people who work there? 

Tests of Security: Are you aware of any attempts to penetrate or test physical security or procedures at a key facility/event? 

Acquiring Supplies: Are you aware of anyone attempting to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, uniforms, badges, flight manuals, access cards or identification for a key facility/event or to legally obtain items under suspicious circumstances that could be used in a terrorist attack? 

Suspicious Persons: Are you aware of anyone who does not appear to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishment, or near a key facility/event? 

"Dry Runs": Have you observed any behavior that appears to be preparation for a terrorist act, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios with other people, monitoring key facilities/events, timing traffic lights or traffic flow, or other suspicious activities? 

Deploying Assets: Have you observed abandoned vehicles, stockpiling of suspicious materials, or persons being deployed near a key facility/event? 

If you have observed any suspicious activity that may relate to terrorism, please contact us (911 or 510-777-3211 by cell phone) A tip may save the lives of innocent people. 

Tips may also be sent to us anonymously. Nixle Tip Watch allows tipsters to send OPD a tip three ways: 

1. Text TIP OAKLANDPD followed by your text tip to 888-777 from your cell phone 
2. Call our toll-free tip hotline at 855-TIPS-247 (855-847-7247) 
3. Respond to OPD's Nixle messages or submit a web tip form 

Sergeant Chris Bolton 
Chief of Staff 
Office of Chief of Police 
Oakland Police Department 
(510) 238-3131