Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday extended a monthslong swell of California Highway Patrol officers across Oakland, suggesting that it was needed amid the likely recalls of the city’s mayor and Alameda County’s district attorney.
The governor’s directive means that increased numbers of CHP officers would remain in Oakland through the end of the year. It extends an operation that began in February, which has resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,200 people and the recovery of 2,246 stolen vehicles, the governor’s office said Friday. The officers also have seized 124 illegal firearms.
In a statement, Newsom framed the decision as an important step “to help maintain public safety during potential leadership transitions following Tuesday’s election.”
“During these leadership transitions, Oakland families should feel secure knowing that the state will help maintain public safety and help keep their communities secure,” Newsom said.
The twin recalls of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao appeared on the path to success this week, with both measures leading by a roughly 2-to-1 margin. Still, the results had yet to be finalized, and many more ballots had yet to be counted as of Thursday evening.
Newsom has previously framed the highway patrol operation as a partnership with Oakland police and other local law enforcement agencies, and he has stressed that “this is not a permanent operation.”