Oakland Police Crack Down on Crime Ahead of Super Bowl

OPD says it has been working for weeks to keep streets safe during Super Bowl festivities

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The Oakland Police Department says it has been working for weeks to crack down on crime and keep the streets safe during the Super Bowl festivities in the Bay Area. OPD has already arrested 37 men for engaging in the commercial sex trade and has towed 16 vehicles for reckless driving. The department says it will have extra officers, SWAT teams, and traffic enforcement deployed across the city, especially around the official NFL watch party at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.

Why it matters

Large sporting events like the Super Bowl often attract an influx of criminal activity, including prostitution and reckless driving. The Oakland Police Department is taking proactive measures to try to curb these issues and ensure public safety during the festivities.

The details

Oakland Police Interim Chief James Beere says the department has been working since January to tackle prostitution in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. He says 37 men have already been arrested for engaging in the commercial sex trade, with about 65% of them coming from outside of Oakland. Beere also says there will be extra officers, SWAT teams, and traffic enforcement deployed across the city, especially around the official NFL watch party at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. The department is also warning that they will tow cars and potentially make arrests for any reckless driving or sideshow activities.

  • Since January, the Oakland Police Department has been working to crack down on prostitution ahead of the Super Bowl.
  • As of now, 37 men have been arrested for engaging in the commercial sex trade.

The players

James Beere

Interim Police Chief of the Oakland Police Department.

Cathy Lanier

NFL Chief of Security.

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What they’re saying

“The message is, if you come here to celebrate the Super Bowl, and engage in parties and festivities, and you think it's a good idea to drive out to International (Boulevard) and pick up a prostitute, just keep in mind that it's probably an undercover police officer.”

— James Beere, Interim Police Chief, Oakland Police Department (abc7.com)

“There's no planned ICE enforcement activities. We are confident of that.”

— Cathy Lanier, NFL Chief of Security (abc7.com)

What’s next

The Oakland Police Department says it will continue to have a strong law enforcement presence and enforcement efforts throughout the Super Bowl weekend to maintain public safety.

The takeaway

The Oakland Police Department is taking a proactive approach to cracking down on criminal activity like prostitution and reckless driving ahead of the Super Bowl in order to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the festivities.