The Oakland Police Foundation is an important non-profit charitable organization founded and supported by concerned Oakland residents, business owners, civic leaders and strategic partners to respond to the impact of Oakland's fiscal crisis upon the Police Department and its officers. This foundation raises private money to provide direct funding to the Oakland Police Department for necessary training and equipment to enhance the safety and effectiveness of its officers, especially in the areas supporting their efforts to reduce violent crimes against Oakland youth and families. Burnham Brown partners Gregory Brown and Jimmie Williams have been instrumental in the successful formation and launch of this foundation's active operations, working in close concert with the foundation's President, Mr. Geoff Collins of RLI Insurance, a long time Oakland resident and business professional. Mr. Williams continues to provide important legal support to the organization and its operations. Mr. Brown has been elected to a two year term on the Board of Directors and to serve as the Vice-Chair of the foundation, the civilian counterpart to the Chairman, Captain David Downing of the Oakland Police Department.
The Oakland Police Foundation was a co-sponsor of the recent Oakland Police Officers Appreciation Reception held in the Oakland Rotunda Building on July 28, 2010. This reception was a large and highly successful community event designed to express our community's heartfelt moral support and appreciation of our police force, especially those officers, and their families, who were recently laid off due to Oakland's budget crisis.
Additional Burnham Brown attorneys who attended the reception included Partner Scott Finch, and Associates James Blake, Aimee Hamoy-Perera, Walt Rundin and Jack Schwartz.