California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state will send 120 more California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland to deal with the region’s high crime.
In total, it’s nearly a 900 percent increase in state law enforcement for Oakland and the East Bay.
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The big picture: California is temporarily deploying CHP officers to the region, which includes specialized units and advanced investigative technology to crack down on crime.
- Newsom’s office specifically detailed vehicle theft, retail theft and violent crime as a focus of the operation.
- CHP officers will use license plate reader technology to help identify and recover stolen vehicles. They will also use specialized units, such as K9s and air support.
- Reports from Oakland reveal that in 2023 violent crime rose by 21 percent, robbery by 38 percent and vehicle theft by 45 percent.
The backstory: Oakland’s high crime rate has been the subject of negative press recently as In-N-Out and Denny’s have both announced plans to each close down a location in the city.
- Both companies said the decision to leave those locations was to protect the safety of their employees and customers.
What they’re saying: Newsom said in a statement that the trend of high crime in Oakland is alarming and unacceptable.
- “I’m sending the California Highway Patrol to assist local efforts to restore a sense of safety that the hardworking people of Oakland and the East Bay demand and deserve,” Newsom said.
- Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao added, “The City of Oakland is hard at work turning the tide – increasing law enforcement investigations, increasing police recruitment, and investing in community and violence intervention efforts. As we work to improve public safety, I’m grateful for Governor Newsom for providing these critical law enforcement resources that are a game-changer in helping us hold more criminals accountable and make Oakland safer.”
