Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Introduces Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Team
DA Pamela Price Increases Funding for Retail Theft Prosecutions
Oakland CA, October 12, 2023 – Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will introduce her Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Team. In September, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (ACDAO) was awarded a significant two million dollar grant to fund a new prosecution unit to address the growing issue of Organized Retail Theft (ORT) in the community. DA Price will make an exciting announcement at this introduction event.
Alameda County is one of 13 district attorneys’ offices across California that received funding to establish new vertical prosecution units. The proposal submitted by DA Price and her team on behalf of the ACDAO was ranked second in the entire state. Two of the 31 City Police Departments awarded ORT Prevention Grants are in Alameda County: Fremont Police Dept. and Newark Police Dept.
The grant is part of the state’s largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in California. The funds will be allocated in annual installments over the next three years.
The first-of-its-kind model will focus on the investigation and prosecution of organized retail theft crimes, using a vertical prosecution model. Under the grant program, DA Price has created the team which includes Deputy District Attorneys, Inspectors, and Senior Program Specialists, working together to investigate and prosecute ORT cases from start to finish. DA Price will introduce the team to the public at this very special event. Confirmed attendees include representatives from the Fremont, Newark and City of Alameda Police Departments, representatives from various local Chambers of Commerce, the Bay Area Council, and retailers from around the County.
Oakland City Councilwoman Carroll Fife offered her comments on behalf of the City of Oakland:
While small businesses are the backbone of Oakland’s economy, we have seen a rollback in federal and state level pandemic support well before our communities have recovered. As such, small businesses, as well as their customers, have been deeply strained. If the District Attorney’s new Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Team can provide some relief, I welcome the initiative. We must also keep in mind that these initiatives only work as one part of a much larger strategy that resources both small businesses and their patrons, so they are not struggling to meet their basic needs which includes affordable commercial rents, low-interest business financing, robust infrastructure and city services and violence prevention services that support at-risk communities.
## Contact: Community Support Bureau Associate Director Austin Bruckner, austin.bruckner2@acgov.org // 510-272-5014
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