When I left Oakland in 2009, I was throwing away one of the free, local papers when something caught my eye. It was a short article stating that the Oakland PD truancy rate was, I believe, 37%. So, a significant portion of Oakland PD don't show up for their shifts. Perhaps there is a legitimate reason for this. Unfortunately, every time I try to dig up this statistic, I just get results regarding student truancy efforts by Oakland PD.
Also, in 2008, Oakland PD blew $15,000 on, I believe, Screamin' Eagle exhausts for their police Harleys. After complaints of hearing loss, they took the pipes back off, then spent $1,200 on a 'study' to test whether they increased safety (they didn't), caused hearing damage (they do), and complied with noise standards (they blatantly violate Federal noise laws, and OPD doesn't care). The article I'm looking at is unclear as to whether or not the $15k was in addition to the initial cost of $500 per bike, from before the hearing complaints, removal, study, and re-installation.
I miss a lot of things about Oakland, but Oakland PD's antics are not among them. I don't blame people one bit for wanting private security.