Gov. Gavin Newsom extended California Highway Patrol (CHP) operations in the Bay Area, including Oakland, as new laws empower law enforcement to crack down on retail theft, vehicle theft, and sideshows.
Newsom extended state law enforcement support in the East Bay for another month.“California is proving that public safety is best achieved through smart strategies and strong partnerships,” Newsom said. “By extending our critical CHP operations and enacting tougher laws, we’re not just responding to crime—we’re preventing it and protecting our communities.”
The surge of CHP presence in Oakland started in February 2024. In July, Newsom quadrupled the number of CHP shifts in the region after the CHP had recovered 1,142 stolen cars, seized 55 guns linked to crimes, and arrested 562 suspects since February.
Faith in Action East Bay’s Public Safety Committee and Ceasefire Night Walkers hosted a press conference on Monday along with Oakland officials to share data about gun violence in 2024.
Faith in Action East Bay said 2024 was Oakland’s safest year since 2020, claiming homicides have dropped 34 percent from 2023, and nonfatal shootings have also decreased 34 percent. It credits Ceasefire, Oakland’s gun violence reduction program that identifies high-risk individuals, warns them of their risk of experiencing gun violence, and offers social services.
A report in August from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an organization of police executives, suggested Oakland was experiencing declining homicide and other violent crimes, similar to most other major U.S. cities. Robberies, assaults, and rapes also decreased.
Earlier this year, the state installed 480 high-tech cameras and an Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera in the East Bay, with 190 on state highways and 290 in Oakland. The cameras provide improved vehicle recognition and real-time crime alerts.
Newsom also provided prosecutorial aid from the California National Guard and the California Attorney General’s Office.
“Local law enforcement reports that the state’s support has led to improvements in the city’s crime rates and reporting, but challenges persist due to ineffective local policies, particularly extreme local policies that limit law enforcement’s ability to pursue suspected felons,” he stated.
The CHP operations in Oakland, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino led to more than 4,000 arrests, more than 3,500 stolen vehicles recovered, and hundreds of illegal firearms seized.
The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which Newsom created in 2019 and expanded in 2021, has recovered over $51.3 million in stolen property.
In 2024, the task force overtook totals from 2023 in only 11 months, having recovered more than $13 million worth of stolen goods, arrested 1,406 suspects, and undertaken 777 investigations.
In December, the CHP’s holiday blitz resulted in 117 arrests and felony charges, including petty theft to grand theft, organized retail crime, auto theft, and illegal firearm possession.
In 2024, the CHP recovered over $13 million in stolen goods and arrested more than 1,400 suspects statewide.
