Governor Gavin Newsome | Facebook Website
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the extension of California Highway Patrol (CHP) operations in the Bay Area, including Oakland, following a successful year of enforcement against organized crime. In 2024, the CHP reported record-breaking achievements by recovering over $13 million in stolen goods and arresting more than 1,400 suspects across the state. New laws will take effect in 2025 to enhance penalties for retail theft, vehicle theft, and sideshows.
"California is proving that public safety is best achieved through smart strategies and strong partnerships. By extending our critical CHP operations and enacting tougher laws, we’re not just responding to crime — we’re preventing it and protecting our communities," said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has been pivotal since its establishment in 2019 and subsequent expansion in 2021 under Governor Newsom's administration. The task force has recovered over $51.3 million in stolen property to date. In 2024 alone, by November, they had conducted 777 investigations leading to approximately 1,406 arrests.
In response to persistent crime challenges in Oakland and surrounding areas, Governor Newsom extended state law enforcement support for an additional month. This includes increased patrols since February 2024 and the installation of Flock cameras which have contributed significantly to local investigations.
Despite improvements reported by local law enforcement due to state support, some challenges remain due to what are described as "ineffective local policies." The Governor has directed further collaboration between CHP and Vallejo Police Department to address these issues.
New legislation signed into law this year aims at further reducing crime rates by imposing stricter penalties on retail theft and sideshows among other offenses. These include AB 1779 through AB 3209 as well as SB 905 through SB 1416.
Throughout California, CHP operations have led to over 4,000 arrests related to various criminal activities including gun violence and drug offenses. The cooperative efforts with local law enforcement have also resulted in recovering more than 3,500 stolen vehicles.
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