The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-Up in Oakland

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Over the past 60 years, Oakland has undertaken more police reform efforts than any other American city, yet it has struggled to curb police misconduct. This book offers an authoritative account of the Oakland Police Department's history of violence, secrecy, and mismanagement, highlighting the city's failure to achieve constitutional policing. Investigative journalists Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham examine instances of police violence and corruption in this iconic city, revealing why criminal justice reform remains a challenge nationwide. Readers will meet "The Riders," a group of corrupt officers wreaking havoc, and Keith Batt, a rookie officer assigned to patrol with them. The authors navigate the entrenched police culture and the political landscape of City Hall, where a lack of commitment to reforms and unaccountable local prosecutors perpetuate cycles of brutality. Through exclusive reporting and interviews, they depict a city—and a nation—in crisis, outlining necessary steps to effectively reform policing in the United States.