The office of Governor Gavin Newsom announced the results of an ongoing California Highway Patrol operation on the streets of Oakland, arresting more than 800 people in the past six months.
The governor’s office said in a statement Wednesday that the increased CHP presence since February has resulted in 803 arrests, the seizure of 81 illegal firearms and the recovery of 1,641 stolen vehicles.
“Our continued presence and the results the CHP has delivered in Oakland demonstrate the state’s commitment to prioritizing public safety,” Newsom said. “All Californians should feel safe in their communities, and the state will continue its work to put criminals on notice and families more at ease.”
In February, Newsom announced the deployment of 120 officers in what was described as a “surge” operation, targeting crimes such as auto theft, retail crime and violent crime. The initial surge led to more than 71 arrests and the recovery of 145 stolen vehicles after the first week.
Since then, there have been multiple operations with the Highway Patrol in Oakland and the East Bay. The governor’s office said an operation in July, coupled with recently installed license plate readers, led to an arrest in a recent highway shooting.
Along with additional agents, the California Attorney General’s Office has taken over the prosecution of certain cases originating in Alameda County.
Earlier this year, the state offered Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Office prosecutorial resources to break up organized drug-related criminal enterprises. Last month, Newsom has redeployed the resourcesand said her office was not cooperating. Price has disputed the claims by the governor.
