It sounds absolutely ridiculous to pay someone else to do what the police are getting paid to ostensibly do. It also further divides a community between protected and unprotected.

Perhaps someone that knows more about OPD could chime in:

0. Can't slackers be fired?

1. Is there a recruitment problem that constrains 0.?

2. Is leadership failing to motivate and/or inspire morale?

3. How many OPD regular officers live in Oakland? (I would wager it's very high or very low.)

Postscript: I love Oakland, both its gems and its warts. It's hard to find good music in the Bay Area, especially live blues.