In an effort to combat crime in Oakland and the East Bay, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced an additional deployment of 120 California Highway Patrol officers for a targeted law enforcement surge.
According to the press release issued by the governor’s office, the increased temporary deployment of the additional CHP officers will include specialized units “and advanced investigative technology to crack down on crime and improve public safety.” The officers will be working in partnership with local law enforcement including the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in “a targeted crackdown on criminal activity, including vehicle theft, retail theft, and violent crime.”
This deployment is not the first time Newsom has used the California Highway Patrol to increase law enforcement presence in the Bay Area. CHP were already deployed to Oakland back in August of last year in an effort to combat a string of high-profile carjackings and other armed robberies. He also deployed CHP and National Guard personnel in San Francisco to fight the fentanyl trafficking crisis in October.