End of Watch March 22-23, 2009

Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai and Police Officer John Hege

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you of the shooting death of Four members of the Oakland, CA Police Department. All of the victim officers were struck by gunfire and killed in two separate incidents involving the same suspect.

Killed on March 21, 2009 were Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, and Sergeant Daniel Sakai. Also mortally wounded was Officer John Hege, who later died of his wounds on March 22, 2009. This is the deadliest one day in the history of the Oakland Police Department and a great tragedy for American law enforcement.

The Oakland Police Department has over 800 sworn personnel, however, despite its size, this is a huge emotional and resource hit for OPD. These four men died serving their community and have left behind four grief stricken families, a grieving OPD family, and a grieving community. I am asking ALL chapters to donate whatever they can at this time, but to do so through the National. We will be collecting donations for the next 14 days, and will combine all funds and present one check to the OPD. Please let our National Treasurer, Nick Yanez, know if you are going to donate cash as soon as possible and mail all checks to Nick, payable to NLPOA – OPD Trust Fund.

As many of you know, Oakland has a very active long-standing NLPOA Chapter. I spoke with longtime board member Sergeant Arturo Bautista today, and he advised the OPD family is grief stricken and hurting deeply. Arturo and the Oakland member have always been there for the community and for the NLPOA. It is time for us to be there for them.

Please keep our fallen comrades, their families and OPD in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you all for all that you do and as always, please be safe.

With Heavy Heart,
ART ACEVEDO, NLPOA National President
Chief of Police
Austin Police Department
Office- (512) 974-5051
Fax- (512) 974-6611

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Details form the Oakland Police Web site

Sergeant Mark Dunakin and Officer John Hege were shot and killed during a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing Sergeant Dunakin and mortally wounding Officer Hege. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.

The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol and Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

At approximately 3:30 pm the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.

Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but when that failed a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend the suspect. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fired with a rifle, killing Sergeant Ervin Romans and Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.

It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. At the time of the incident he had a no-bail parole warrant.