California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, wrote Oakland city officials on Friday urging them to change their policies on tracking criminals amid a surge in crime.
Newsom is letter While Oakland's mayor, city council and police have encouraged authorities to get tougher on crime and allow officers to pursue criminals who flee from them, Newsom noted that current policy doesn't allow for that. Current Oakland Police rules allow them to pursue criminals only under extreme circumstances, such as when a firearm is involved, but in most other cases, even violent misdemeanors, a pursuit isn't justified.
“It is well-known that the Oakland Police Department's (OPD) pursuit policy allows for vehicular pursuits only in very limited circumstances, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has informed me that they have witnessed many instances where criminals have escaped with impunity,” Newsom said in the letter. “I urge you to reconsider whether to allow the Oakland Police Department to pursue suspects in more circumstances.”
In the letter, Newsom argued that Oakland is unique among California jurisdictions in that it has a limited pursuit policy that only allows pursuits in “violent forcible crimes” and crimes involving firearms.
“Unlike most other jurisdictions in California, local police in Oakland cannot pursue individuals suspected of committing many felonies, misdemeanors, even violent ones, and other crimes that endanger public safety, such as reckless driving, sideshow driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the letter reads.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters in the Spin Room after the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Crime has soared in Oakland in 2023, with a 44% increase in auto thefts, a 38% increase in robberies, a 21% increase in violent crime and a 17% increase in overall crime as of December compared to the previous year.
The governor said the policy is one of the reasons for the city's high crime rate and pointed to efforts that have been made so far. Release The state is taking a number of steps to combat crime across the state, including investing more than $1.1 billion in public safety measures and strengthening criminal penalties. On July 17, Governor Newsom announced he would quadruple state police staffing in Oakland, increasing the number of police officers in the city from 42 shifts to 162 shifts per week. according to In the San Francisco Chronicle.
Auckland Council announced a review of its tracing policy in May. according to To the Chronicle. (RELATED: Gov. Gavin Newsom approves removal of homeless camps)
Oakland Mayor Shen Tao is facing a recall election in November, largely due to rising crime. Tao was elected in 2022 on a platform of police reform, but under Tao's leadership the city has been without a police chief for nearly a year following the firing of Police Chief Leron Armstrong in what the recall group says was an “unfair” move.
Tao's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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