Dellums and Oakland Police Department brass say the $7.7 million package is key to getting the department to its full strength of 803 officers by the end of the year, a goal Dellums set early this year after facing repeated criticism in 2007 that he wasn't doing enough to fight crime.

Most seem to agree with the mayor on the importance of hiring more officers. The question with which the committee grappled—and the question the City Council will weigh over the next week—is how to do it: Is it fair to use Measure Y money for recruitment and training, and if so, how much?

The committee is an advisory board only and their decisions are not binding. The $7.7 million request moves to the City Council's public safety committee today. The full council is scheduled to consider the request in one week.

The Police Department is about 70 officers short of its authorized strength of 803. It has hired more than 200 officers since the beginning of 2005, but an attrition rate of about five officers per month means policing efforts are still woefully understaffed.

Voters approved Measure Y in 2004 to boost public spending and the measure specifically promised to add at least 63 officers to the Police Department.