Officials Report Increase In Crimes Around 4th-Of-July CALIFORNIA−On Wednesday, July 7, Oakland California Police Department (OCPD) posted a report of an increase in crime and violence that occurred the week before July 4. According to police reports, the spike in crime was not contained in any one city, but reported throughout the state, in what many media outlets called, “a bloody 4th of July weekend.” OCPD reported, “there were 172 ShotSpotter Activations reported from June 28-July 4, up 85 percent. There were 60 instances of gunfire. This year officers recovered 608 firearms.” California’s first responders from police, ambulance drivers, EMTs, and fire and rescue were reportedly overwhelmed with calls.