Gov. Newsom orders CHP enforcement in Oakland to be extended, raising concerns of over-policing

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Gov. Gavin Newsom extended the California Highway Patrol's enforcement surge in Oakland on Friday, which was scheduled to end this week. Newsom says extending the surge is necessary to, "maintain public safety," following Tuesday's election.

The surge operation was first announced in February and set to expire this week.

However, building off the success from the program, Newsom has ordered CHP to continue its work in the city through at least the end of the year.

His office says so far this year, the operation resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,200 suspects, the recovery of more than 2,200 stolen vehicles and the seizure of 124 illegal firearms since February.

That work was amplified back in July when Newsom ramped up these efforts--quadrupling the number of CHP officer shifts over four months to help local agencies target organized crime, sideshows, carjacking and other criminal activity seven days a week.

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In Friday's announcement, Newsom's office said it wants to ensure that the progress it's seen throughout this program is not hampered, following the likely recalls of Mayor Sheng Thao and District Attorney Pamela Price, which are leading in early returns.

While CHP wouldn't say how many more officers are patrolling the streets of Oakland, anecdotally it believes this had made a significant difference across the city.

"We've made hundreds of arrests, recovered over 1,000 stolen vehicles, just talking to members of the community. Officers that are out in the field, people come up to them and say, 'Hey, we do feel safer. We do notice a difference.' Things are trending in the right direction," said CHP Captain Mike Novosel.

Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo said the operation is working.

"Not only dealing with the high crime issue. But also dealing with those that are running through red lights, speeding around schools, creating other difficulties," Gallo said.

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"I was lieutenant here in 2021-2022. And it was bad. But coming back here in 2024, there was an uptick in crime. So, it was definitely needed," Novosel said.

But, some community-based organizations believe the money would be better spent on violence prevention programs. And despite the number of arrests, they are raising concerns of over-policing.

"CHP has a terrible record in terms of being racially biased. Motorists of color are more likely to be stopped. And when they are stopped, they are more likely to be assaulted," said Francis Ramos, director of Campaigns and Organizing at the Oakland-based CURYJ, which works to end youth incarceration and build youth leadership.

"Having that kind of occupying presence in communities of color, all of the data shows has emotional impacts and leads to increased harassment targeting unwarranted arrests, etc--and often that is pointed in the direction of young people," said Cat Brooks, executive director of the Anti-Police Terror Project.

Instead of more law enforcement officers in Oakland, she says she would rather see the investment made in the city's violence and prevention office to stop the violence before it happens.

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In a statement to ABC7 News, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao says the CHP surge frees up Oakland police to respond to service calls: "Their increased presence in Oakland frees up our OPD officers to respond to more calls for service. CHP's presence and the work of the Ceasefire partnership is delivering a major reduction in crime across the board. We look forward to continued coordination."

Cristine Soto DeBarry argues the CHP surge is only necessary because Oakland police have been ineffective.

"I don't know if CHP has to be the answer, but at a moment when Oakland PD is performing so poorly, it leaves the governor with not that many choices," said DeBarry, executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance, a statewide organization focused improving the criminal justice system.

DeBarry points to a report released in October by the Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice. The report finds that despite massive increases in funding, California police are solving fewer crimes.

"It is unfortunate that Oakland PD is not able to do its job effectively. Some of the crime numbers just out show that Oakland Police Department is solving only 3% of violent crime," DeBerry said.

As part of the surge, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent extra attorneys to assist the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. It's not known how many cases they've been involved in, as AG Bonta's office did not respond to requests for more information.