A woman, who once applied for a position with the Oakland Police Department - thinks it was her answer to a particular question that was the reason her application denial, stands in front of the National Police Memorial on Friday Oct. 19, 2018 in Washington D.C. - The Oakland Police Department, which has struggled to recruit women into its ranks, requires all officer applicants to disclose whether they have been sexually assaulted before they can be hired, The Chronicle has learned. Other large-city PDs in California say they do not ask the question, and officials in Oakland could not give a clear reason as to why that question is part of their application process, other than to point out that they want to know if applicants have been involved in any police reports, either as victims, witnesses or accused.