Buses with High Beams for Oakland Police Memorial

News Articles
03/26/2009

In the spirit of community and togetherness, AC Transit provided 12 buses to transport  members of the Oakland Police Department, along with other law enforcement officers from across the nation, to and from the Oracle Arena Friday honoring four Oakland policemen killed in the line of duty. Approximately 18,000 people are expected to attend the memorial service.

Some of the buses will be used to bring Alameda County Sheriff’s personnel from their headquarters near Dublin, and OPD personnel from various locations, including from the Eastmont Transit Center, downtown Oakland, and Hayward. The agency will also provide shuttle buses to help transport police officers from any remote parking lots near the Arena where the ceremony is being held.

Buses and drivers will remain at the Arena until after the funeral to transport police personnel back to pick-up locations, and to operate the shuttle within the Oracle Arena parking lot(s). Shuttle buses will transport officers who remain for a special reception with family members, and back and forth to the Eastmont Station and OPD on an as needed basis.

Finally, all AC Transit buses in service pulled to the side of the road when the memorial service began at 11am to honor the fallen officers.

In addition, as a District-wide tribute, AC Transit will honor the four fallen officers– Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40; Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43; Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, and Officer John Hege, 41–by operating all buses with their high-beam headlights on from 8am to 5pm on Friday.

AC Transit is saddened by their deaths and honors their memory.