Vigil Held for Slain Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le

Oakland community members held a vigil Friday morning for police Officer Tuan Le, one week after he was fatally shot while responding to a reported burglary.

Members of the Fa Yun Chan Temple recited a prayer for the deceased officer, who was Buddhist. Organizers set up a picture of Le smiling in his uniform alongside a table with traditional offerings of fruit, flowers and incense.

Those at the event spoke of Le’s commitment to his job and recalled attending his graduation from the police academy in 2020.

“He was very proud of being an Oakland police officer and he was very proud of protecting our community,” Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam said.

The Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation organized the vigil. Carl Chan, the group’s president, said Le was a friendly and approachable presence in the city.

“He was not only a police officer but also a good friend of the community,” Chan said. “So today, we are so happy that many of us could have a chance to express our appreciation for Officer Le, but also to his family.”

Le was fatally shot in the early hours of Dec. 29 while responding to a reported burglary at a cannabis business.

Two men charged with Le’s murder were arraigned in court Thursday morning. They are expected to appear again on Jan. 18 to enter their pleas.

Soon after the vigil, just over a dozen people rallied in front of Oakland City Hall. Some held signs calling for the recall of Oakland District Attorney Pamela Price or wore apparel supporting Donald Trump.

Organized by the group Citizens Unite, the rally called for city leadership to hire more police officers, punish criminals more harshly, and declare a state of emergency over crime in Oakland in light of Le’s death.

“These are the heroes, these are the people we call and rely on when we get in trouble. But our politicians are letting them die,” said Francisco Acosta, who participated in the rally.

Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo also attended. He supported the calls for Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to declare a state of emergency, saying that would allow federal law enforcement to increase their presence in the city and speed up the process of appointing a new permanent police chief.

Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife pushed back on those assertions.

“Declaring a legal state of emergency is not something that will change the conditions on the street at all, and it’s actually disingenuous or ignorant to suggest otherwise,” Fife said in an interview with KQED. “I’m really exhausted with the politicization of pain. And I think individuals are weaponizing the pain and the trauma of Oakland residents to advance a political narrative.”

Fife also said an increased police presence on the streets of Oakland would not make the city safer.

“I would argue that it is the defunding of social services that is creating chaos for underserved populations that creates the pain that we see. Because individuals who are never, who never have their needs met don’t give a s— about yours,” Fife said.