Governor Newsom increases CHP deployment in Oakland and criticizes Alameda DA Price’s ability to prosecute crime

(OAKLAND) Governor Gavin Newsom announced on July 11 his plan to increase deployment of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in Oakland to crack down on crime. Newsom also was critical of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price for lack of cooperation that led to his decision to redirect the state resources.

Newsom called for a press conference on July 11 to announce the expanded operation from CHP and his effort to combat the crime in Oakland.

Newsom said he would quadruple the number of CHP officers conducted in Oakland and increase surge operations over the next four months in the city starting on July 15.

The press conference was joined by CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee and newly-appointed Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell.

Newsom announced the recovery of 1,142 stolen cars, the seizure of 55 guns linked to crimes, and the arrests of 562 suspects since February when the latest CHP deployment in Oakland began.

In February this year, Newsom and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announced a deployment of 120 CHP officers who would be sent to Oakland and other parts of East Bay.

"Building on our partnership with local law enforcement, I’m deploying a new surge of CHP officers to help provide the people of Oakland and the East Bay the safety and security they deserve," Newsom said.

Under the expanded operation, CHP officers would be present in the city of Oakland on a daily basis. The operations would target organized crime, sideshows, carjackings, and other criminal activity seven days a week.

“This is not a permanent operation,” Newsom said. “But over the next four months, we’re committed to keep up the intensity of this operation.”

In the meantime, CHP would refer certain complex cases to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.

During the press event, Newsom made public that his office would rescind its offer to send state prosecutors to Alameda County for assisting the District Attorney’s Office caseload. He criticized District Attorney Price as uncooperative to his offer.

In February, Newsom and the state Attorney General’s Office offered Price the use of prosecutors from the California National Guard and the state Department of Justice.

But in a letter to Price’s office on July 10, the Governor’s Office said Price did not make use of state resources and did not take initial steps toward finalizing the memorandum of understanding. Those resources would be shifted to the Attorney General to take on state-led prosecutions that originate in Alameda County, according to the letter.

“We’ve been disappointed by the lack of engagement with the DA’s office,” Newsom said. “So we’re moving forward, rather than complaining about it, rather than lamenting about it.”

Price addressed Newsom’s criticism in her own press conference on the same day. “I cannot speak to the governor’s disappointment,” Price said. “I’m disappointed that the governor did not reach out to me directly, and I’m disappointed that the governor did not acknowledge the efforts that our office is making.”

Price denied Newsom’s claims about the staffing of the Alameda County DA Office. “The governor is misinformed, apparently,” Price said.