Newsom surges law enforcement to Oakland while calling out district attorney over crime

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is surging California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland as part of efforts to fight the crime crisis in the East Bay.

The surge comes months after the governor announced he would be deploying 120 California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland and announced the installation of 480 surveillance cameras in the area to help law enforcement. Newsom announced the increased efforts Thursday, while adding that past initiatives have been helpful in fighting crime in Oakland.

“While we are encouraged by some positive trends, the lawlessness we’re seeing on the streets of Oakland is unacceptable,” Newsom said in a statement. “Building on our partnership with local law enforcement, I’m deploying a new surge of CHP officers to help provide the people of Oakland and the East Bay the safety and security they deserve.”

The plan calls for California Highway Patrol to quadruple the number of shifts designated for Oakland over the next four months. The governor’s office said the operation will begin Monday and will target various crimes including organized crime, sideshows, and carjackings. Newsom’s office also said that “certain complex cases” will be referred to the California attorney general’s office for prosecution.

During a press conference announcing the extra officer deployments, Newsom took aim at embattled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price for not accepting help from the state with prosecuting crime.

“We’ve been disappointed, the lack of engagement with the DA’s office,” Newsom said. “So we’re moving forward. Rather than complaining about it, rather than lamenting about it.”

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Newsom’s office sent Price a letter rescinding his previous offer to send state attorneys to help with prosecutions, claiming her office had “yet to make use of these resources,” Politico reported.

Price, at a separate press conference Thursday, said she was “disappointed” by the governor’s actions. The rescinded offer for help is the latest blow to Price, a progressive district attorney, who is facing a recall in November.