Shootings in the city of Oakland continue to soar, even as the police department cuts back on patrol officers amid a budget crisis.
So far, Oakland has seen 14 homicides this year, comparing to just one murder during the same time last year.
Local hospitals are seeing at least one gunshot injury every day.
"We see massive resurgence in violent crime," said Barry Donelan, President of the Oakland Police Officer’s Association. He told KCBS Radio the continuation of last year's bloodshed comes amid $20 million in budget cuts to the Oakland Police Department.
They include all traffic and sideshow squads, and 42 patrol officers on weekends.
"These new reductions…we worry moving forward into 2021 what we’re going to see," he said. If this tragic trend continues, KCBS Radio and San Francisco Chronicle Insider Phil Matier estimated the city will have 168 homicides in 2021.
Last year there were 102 murders, the first time in eight years Oakland eclipsed the century mark.
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