California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, on Friday called on Oakland officials to change an “extreme” policy that generally only allows police to pursue suspected criminals in cases of “violent force crimes.”
The Governor sent a letter to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the Oakland City Council and the Oakland Police Commission urging them to reconsider the Oakland Police Department's (OPD) policy limiting officers' ability to pursue suspects.
“While some California jurisdictions permit vehicle pursuits only for certain offenses (e.g., felonies), Oakland is an outlier in placing exceptional restrictions on OPD's ability to police criminal activity, generally permitting pursuits only for 'violent force crimes,' as defined in OPD policy, and offenses involving firearms,” Newsom wrote.
The letter said that unlike most other jurisdictions in the state, local police in Oakland are prohibited from pursuing people suspected of committing a variety of felonies and misdemeanors, including violent crimes, as well as other offenses that endanger public safety, such as reckless driving, sideshow activities and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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“I am aware of the sensitivities surrounding vehicle pursuits, which can be dangerous to police, suspects, and innocent bystanders,” the governor wrote. “The California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission recognizes and addresses this issue in its standard-setting guidelines. But there is also extreme danger to the public in allowing criminals to act with impunity, and reckless driving associated with sideshows and other criminal acts is a significant threat to public safety, as regularly witnessed by the public in viral videos and news coverage.”
This comes after Newsom's recent decision to increase the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Oakland to conduct heightened operations targeting organized crime, sideshows, car thefts and other criminal activities.
Newsom said the move quickly produced several arrests of suspects accused of committing these crimes. Two days after the governor’s announcement, the CHP used ground and air assets to conduct a reinforcement operation targeting sideshows. Several vehicle chases during that operation led to five felony arrests, eight DUIs, the recovery of eight stolen vehicles and the seizure of two weapons.
“However, during CHP operations, they have observed, based on their professional law enforcement experience and expertise, certain dynamics that contribute to Oakland's public safety problems,” Newsom wrote in the letter. “In particular, the CHP has brought to my attention the fact that they have observed that criminals often flee with impunity because it is public knowledge that the Oakland Police Department's (OPD) pursuit policy allows for vehicle pursuits only in very limited circumstances.”
Newsom said the CHP observed the suspects attempting to avoid arrest by using the same routes, meaning the suspects knew where the OPD would stop pursuing them. But, the governor said, the suspects were unable to avoid the six pursuits initiated by the CHP, which had several resources at its disposal, including air support.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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“Any policy on vehicle pursuits must take into account the risks and benefits involved,” Newsom's letter reads. “Due to Oakland's public safety challenges and the extent to which OPD's pursuit policy is an exception among California law enforcement agencies, I support the City Council's recent action to order a review of this policy.
“I urge you to reconsider whether OPD should be allowed to pursue suspects in more circumstances to enhance public safety in your city and to establish a process to evaluate whether OPD is making full use of its authority, including that granted under the existing pursuit policy, to protect public safety and enforce the law,” he continued.
Newsom concluded his letter by saying he is committed to improving public safety in Oakland and across California. He said there have been some recent improvements in public safety, but officials “have an obligation to our communities to continue to look for solutions.”
