Alameda County DA Pamela Price Faces Recall as Police Unions Unite Against Her Leadership

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is facing significant opposition as all 14 police unions in the county have publicly endorsed her recall, just weeks ahead of the November ballot.

At a press conference on Saturday, the unions criticized Price for being too lenient with repeat offenders, claiming she has allowed known criminals to continue committing crimes without facing consequences.

We see the same people getting arrested repeatedly for the same crimes, only to be released back into our communities to harm more citizens, the unions stated.

This call for her removal adds to the growing list of East Bay organizations advocating for Price’s ouster. Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents the area and has previously clashed with Price on social media, publicly backed the recall last week. Additionally, in June, the county prosecutors’ union overwhelmingly supported her removal, and the California Association of Realtors contributed $50,000 to the recall campaign.

Many observers are not surprised by this opposition. Price has been criticized for her perceived leniency on crime and controversial hiring choices, such as bringing in an Oakland Deputy Chief who was dismissed for misconduct. She has also revived previously dropped charges against three police officers under questionable legal circumstances.

The recall effort against Price began just six months into her term, gathering 74,000 verified signatures over a 10-month period. This campaign mirrors the successful 2022 recall of San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, whose progressive policies were similar to Price’s approach to criminal justice reform. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is also facing a recall vote this November, driven by similar public safety concerns.