Newsom Start Cleaning Up California?
Governor Gavin Newsom of California is urging Oakland’s leaders to reevaluate their police pursuit policies, suggesting that the current regulations are exacerbating the city’s public safety issues. Newsom, who has clashed with Oakland officials regarding the city’s handling of its crime problems, recently sent a letter to Mayor Sheng Thao, the City Council, and the Oakland Police Commission, highlighting his concerns.
The heart of Newsom’s criticism revolves around Oakland’s restrictive pursuit policy, which permits vehicle chases only for “violent forcible crimes” and offenses involving firearms. This policy, Newsom argues, is too limiting and hampers the ability of law enforcement to effectively address criminal activity. The Governor pointed out that California Highway Patrol officers deployed to Oakland had observed that criminals were exploiting this policy by choosing escape routes where they knew pursuits would be discontinued.
In his letter, Newsom notes that while other jurisdictions in California have similar limitations on vehicle pursuits, Oakland’s policy is unusually restrictive. He emphasizes that broader pursuit policies could help improve public safety by allowing law enforcement to act more decisively against crime.
Acknowledging the sensitivities surrounding vehicle pursuits, Newsom still urged the City Council to reconsider their stance. He suggested that the Oakland Police Department (OPD) should be allowed to pursue suspects in a wider range of scenarios to better protect the community. He also called for a review of whether the OPD is fully utilizing its existing authority under the current policy to uphold the law and enhance safety.
Newsom, who previously served as the mayor of San Francisco, has been particularly vocal about the crime crisis in Oakland this year. He has pushed for increased state involvement in combating crime and has been critical of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price for her reluctance to accept additional state assistance. Earlier in the month, Newsom withdrew his offer to send state attorneys for criminal prosecutions after Price reportedly declined the support, instead opting to have complex cases referred to the California Attorney General’s office.
This move underscores Newsom’s commitment to addressing the severe crime challenges facing Oakland and his broader goal of ensuring effective law enforcement across the state.
