Police unions in Alameda and Oakland each have contributed $10,000 to the campaign to recall District Attorney Pamela Price, according to a report in the East Bay Insiders Newsletter, written by “city hall insiders.” The newsletter also stated that the Alameda County Prosecutors’ Association added another $40,000 to the recall effort, with another $50,000 expected from police unions.
On Saturday, October 5, police unions representing every city in Alameda County unanimously endorsed Price’s recall at a news conference, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle. They were joined by the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Alameda County and other organizations, as well as crime victims calling for Price to be removed from office.
The unanimous group of police unions includes Alameda Police Officers Association, Albany Police Officers Association, Berkeley Police Association, Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Alameda County, Emeryville Police Officers Association, Fremont Police Association, Hayward Police Officers Association, Livermore Police Officers Association, Newark Police Officers Association, Oakland Police Officers Association, Piedmont Police Officers Association, Pleasanton Police Officers Association, San Leandro Police Officers Association, and the Union City Police Officers Association, according to Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE), which is heading the recall effort.
The press conference on Saturday was organized by Alameda County Police Union representatives, families of crime victims in Alameda County, recall campaign principals Carl Chan and Brenda Grisham of SAFE, and SAFE members.
Speaking at the conference, Grisham said Price has failed to hold people accountable for their crimes.
“Reforming is not letting people who are not being held accountable put criminals back on the street,” Grisham said, according to a KTVU News report. “It’s not safe for them and the community. It’s traumatizing for the victims. Fixing the system is one thing, but destroying the system is another.”
The press conference followed an announcement from East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell last Wednesday, October 2, calling for Price’s recall. Swalwell indicated that the DA is too lenient on criminals. According to a CBS News report, Swalwell said, “The cops catch and Price releases (them). Violent robberies and burglaries and home invasion robberies continue to be on the rise.”
Price, who has not yet commented on the press conference, was elected in 2022 with 53% of the vote, according to the Chronicle report. Her platform was based on reforming the criminal justice system, including banning special-circumstance allegations and sentencing enhancements, and prosecuting corrupt police. Her supporters argue that her policies are necessary to reform a broken criminal justice system.
“I know that Pamela Price is fair. And you have to be fair not only to the victim and their family, but also to the person who’s (accused of committing) the crime,” former Berkeley councilmember Cheryl Davila said at a June recall rally reported by CBS News. “I know from being Black in America that Black people are put in jail much more than other people.”
Voters will decide on the recall of District Attorney Pamela Price in the November 5 election.
