15 homicides marks 20 year high for Oakland in January Bay City News Service FacebookTwitterEmail An Oakland Police officer walks by patrol cars at the Oakland Police headquarters.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images By Keith Burbank Every other day on average last month someone was slain Oakland, police said Monday. The 15 homicides are the greatest number of killings for a January in the city in 20 years. Only one homicide occurred in the city a year ago in January. Sixty-four shootings took place last month in a city that had seen a remarkable drop in violence until last year. Police have placed some of the blame for the recent jump in violence on their inability to use ceasefire tactics during the pandemic. The officers' association says defunding the department is making things worse.