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What’s going on with the Oakland Police Department and Oakland Police Interim Chief Susan Manheimer, that an officer would be allowed to wear, on duty, a shirt that many point to as in the style of the kind of Hawaiian Shirts worn by the racist violent Boogaloo Boys group? Moreover, does Susan Manheimer know that shirt she initially dismissed as a non-story because it was the kind of Hawaiian shirt one could by at Macy’s? (It wasn’t, and even though she took a photo to show the Tommy Bahama section at Macy, those pictures demonstrated that that style of shirt wasn’t there!)

And does Oakland Police Interim Chief Susan Manheimer know (and did anyone at OPD tell her) that the Boogaloo Boys-style Hawaiian shirts, not to mention Hawaiian shirts, are disallowed by the Oakland Police Department’s own code, which even specifically prohibits beach wear!? Consider that, in her email to an Oaklander, Manheimer herself never even raised that issue, yet more evidence to back the assertion of many, including this blogger, that she was simply covering for the Boogaloo Boys Hawaiian Shirt-wearing officer. Well, check this out, and thanks to an Oaklander on Facebook, who tipped me off to this information.

Here’s the most recent video blog on this, below, the OPD regulations section here, and the most recent post link is here:

Here is the section of Oakland Police Department regulations that covers “civilian clothing worn by members while on-duty”, and is here below, here by link, with the full text section posted below:

B. On-Duty Civilian Clothing for Members

Civilian clothing worn by members while on-duty shall reflect professional
appearance, and shall be suitable for the safe and inconspicuous
performance of basic police tasks.

Civilian clothing shall be clean and in good repair. Members shall be guided
by the following minimum standards:

1. Male members shall wear a dress shirt and tie with a business suit or
a conservatively tailored sports coat and slacks. Shoes shall be of a
conservative style and color. Leather jackets or “cowboy” boots of
any style shall not be worn. For the purpose of this order, cowboy
boots are defined as any boots that have a high arch, a high heel,
unusually fancy stitching, or a pointed toe.

a. Male members shall not wear any insignia, emblem,
decoration, badge, pin, nose rings, and any other jewelry or
ornament except for conservative rings, tie bars, tie tacks, or
lapel pins.

b. Shoes shall have soles and heels of conservative height.

c. Commanders and supervisors may permit members to
remove their ties when assigned to duties which do not
involve public contact or where the tie would pose a safety
hazard.

2. Female members shall wear suits, dresses, skirts, or pants in designs
and colors suitable for business wear and of prevailing style, fit, and
length. All accessories (e.g. gloves, purse, shoes, hosiery, etc.) shall
be of conservative style and color.

a. Female members shall not wear any insignia, decoration,
emblem, badge, nose rings, jewelry or ornament except for
conservative rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, or
hair clasps.

b. Hair shall be simply and neatly groomed in a daytime style.

c. Proper foundation garments shall be worn at all times.

d. Use of cosmetics shall be minimal.

e. Shoes shall have a maximum heel height of 3″, and shall
have a back strap or full back. Spike heels and sport shoes
are not permitted.

3. Captains or higher rank may authorize or require any type of
clothing for an assignment in which approved civilian apparel would
be unsuitable for police purposes.

A Personal Appearance Waiver Form (TF-3382) shall be completed
and forwarded as specified in Part II, A, 4.

C. Casual Friday

Office personnel who are not required to wear uniforms shall have the
option of wearing business appropriate casual attire on Fridays. Casual
Friday attire shall only be acceptable on Fridays.

1. The following items shall be considered business appropriate casual
attire:

a. Sweaters

b. Button down shirts

c. Polo shirts

d. Cardigans

e. Slacks

f. Dockers

g. Skirts/dresses

2. The following items shall not be considered business appropriate
casual attire:

a. Shorts

b. Capri pants

c. T-shirts

d. Tight fitting spandex/lycra

e. Off the shoulder tops

f. Spaghetti or tank straps

g. Torn, frayed or cut clothing

h. Flip-flops or thongs

i. Athletic wear

j. Beach wear

k. Revealing or sheer clothing that exposes the bosom, back or
midriff

l. Clothing that bears sexually suggestive or profane symbol

m. Jeans or denim skirts

Pants shall be worn at ankle length and skirts/dresses at knee length
or longer.

3. The star, identification card, fully-loaded semi-automatic pistol and
one additional fully-loaded magazine, handcuffs and key, call box
key, and, as necessary, the protective vest, shall be carried or worn
by plainclothes members.

I also included this section on “member uniforms” to show that the officer was even out-of-compliance with this section!

III. MEMBER UNIFORMS

When designated as the uniform of the day, all members assigned to field duties
shall wear the same uniform. The uniform of the day shall be designated by the
Bureau of Field Operations Deputy Chief or designee. Refer to Part VI for
authorized uniform and equipment description and specifications.

A. The Dress Uniform (Class A)

1. Hat with shield, uniform jacket, trousers, belt, long sleeve shirt,
undershirt, insignia, tie, star, nameplate, white gloves, shoes, socks.

a. Motorcycle officers shall make the appropriate substitutions
of helmet, breeches, bow tie and boots.

b. The uniform jacket may not be worn without a tie. Pencils
and other objects shall not be placed in the outside pockets of
the uniform jacket.

c. Wearing of the uniform jacket with the short sleeve uniform
is prohibited.

2. Class A gun belt: Key ring with whistle, callbox key and handcuff
key, firearm, handcuffs and case, baton ring and short baton.

B. Long or Short Sleeve Uniform (Class B)

1. Hat with shield, trousers, belt, short sleeve shirt, black
undershirt,
insignia, star, nameplate, socks and boots.

2. Class B gun belt: Handcuff key, OC, Firearm, handcuffs and case,
radio holder, flashlight holder, baton ring, Asp (optional), magazine
pouch, Taser (shall be worn opposite of the firearm in either an
authorized belt or leg holster) and dump pouch (optional).

3. Motorcycle officers shall make the appropriate substitutions for
their
uniform.

4. All members shall have the option of wearing a dickey, turtleneck
sweater or mock turtleneck under the short sleeve shirt. If the
turtleneck is worn without a jacket, the sweater sleeves shall not
extend below the shirt sleeves.

5. Optional outerwear.

6. Motorcycle officers shall also have the option of wearing the leather
jacket.

7. The uniform hat may be worn at the discretion of the individual
officer having consideration for officer safety and the requirement
for identification, or at the direction of a supervisor or command
officer.

8. Watch Cap (optional)

Night shift personnel are authorized to wear the watch cap. Day
shift and swing shift personnel shall only wear the watch cap upon
approval by the Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) Deputy Chief or
designee.

When wearing the watch cap, the insignia shall be visible and worn
centered on the forehead above the nose.

C. Field Utility Uniform (Class C)

Long sleeve or short sleeve utility shirt with name lettering, black
undershirt, trousers, belt, insignia, star, shoes, socks, and Class B gun belt.

1. Members assigned to routine field duties shall wear the utility
uniform only when designated as the uniform of the day by the
Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) Deputy Chief or designee.

2. Members assigned to units outside of the BFO shall not wear utility
uniforms without the prior authorization from the appropriate
Bureau Deputy Chief or designee.

3. Bureau Deputy Chiefs or designee may authorize utility uniforms as
the uniform of the day, to include, but not limited to, the following
circumstances:

a. During inclement weather (to include hot or humid
conditions);

b. Special field projects;

c. Mobile field force mobilizations; or

d. Major Response Operations.

4. Members assigned to the following field units shall only wear the
utility uniform during their regular tour of duty, unless otherwise
directed by a higher ranking member:

a. Crime Reduction Team;

b. Canine Handlers*;

c. Police Evidence Technicians;

d. Patrol Rifle Officers;

e. Commercial Enforcement Unit;

f. Taxi Detail;

g. Abandon Auto;

h. Vehicle Abatement;

i. Dual-purpose motorcycles officers, when riding;

j. Marine Unit;

k. Alcohol Beverage Action Team;

l. Scofflaw; and

m. Helicopter Unit when not in their flight suit.

* Canine Handlers, when working with their police canine, are
authorized to wear the previous 5.11 utility uniform.

5. Optional outerwear.

6. Utility cap.

7. Watch Cap (optional)

Night shift personnel are authorized to wear the watch cap. Day
shift and swing shift personnel shall only wear the watch cap upon
approval by the Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) Deputy Chief or
designee.

When wearing the watch cap, the insignia shall be visible and worn
centered on the forehead above the nose.

D. Specialty Uniforms

1. Undercover, Plain Clothes or Task Force Uniform

a. The Tactical Assault Carrier (TAC) Vest shall only be worn
by members:

1) Working in an active undercover operation or related
task; or

2) Assigned to a plain clothes assignment where the
need to wear the vest is essential to complete a police
mission in a more timely manner.

Except for Tactical Team members, prior to wearing the TAC Vest,
all members shall attend a TAC Vest training class. All members
shall ensure their approved protective vest, as specified in DGO C-
04, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, is contained within the TAC Vest
before taking this equipment into the field.

b. The Undercover Plain Clothes or Task Force Uniform shall
consist of the:

1) TAC Vest and jeans or utility uniform pants; and

2) Class B gun belt.

2. Tactical Team Uniform

a. The Tactical Team uniform shall only be worn during
tactical team operations, training or other event as specified
by the Tactical Team Leader.

b. Mandatory safety equipment and other equipment approved
by the Tactical Team Leader.

c. TAC Vest (optional)

3. Helicopter Uniform

a. Helmet, as specified in DGO C-04, SAFETY EQUIPMENT

b. Flight suit.

c. Flight jacket and utility cap are optional.

d. Class B gun belt unless otherwise specified by Helicopter
Unit supervisor.

4. Bicycle Uniform

a. Helmet, as specified in DGO C-04.

b. Shirt, Pants, Shoes as specified in Part VI, D, 5.

c. Class B gun belt.

I am sending this to the Oakland Police Media and the Oakland City Council and the Oakland Police Commission for their information and response. Here’s the full text version:

OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT D… by Zennie Abraham

Stay tuned.