Sgt. Derwin Longmire, Oakland Police Dept, homicide investigator, on the skyrocketing homicide rate in Oakland

"A kid is geared in a certain direction, but that doesn't mean they're doomed. They're not employable. They can't get up to go to work on time. They haven't followed instructions since the third grade. Society doesn't require anything of them.

When the lights are out and everything is quiet, I think they want to change. But change is hard. They might do it for as long as it's easy. They need a male model to come along and say, "Partner, life is not easy." I don't know if they are willing to do the work or if the support is there."

San Francisco Chronicle