Newsom calls on Oakland officials to tighten police pursuit policy

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) sent a letter to Oakland officials Friday urging them to tighten their police pursuit policy.

“Although some California jurisdictions allow vehicle pursuits for only certain crimes (e.g., felonies), Oakland is an outlier by imposing exceptional restrictions on [the Oakland Police Department’s (OPD)] ability to police criminal activity, generally permitting pursuits only for ‘violent forcible crimes,’ as defined in OPD’s policy, and crimes involving firearms,” Newsom said in the letter addressed to the city’s mayor, the Oakland City Council and the Oakland Police Commission.

“This means that, unlike in nearly all other California jurisdictions, local police in Oakland cannot pursue individuals suspected of committing many felonies, any misdemeanor, even if violent, and other offenses that endanger public safety, such as reckless driving, sideshow activity, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” he wrote.

The Golden State’s governor added that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) “have observed, based on their professional law enforcement experience and expertise, certain dynamics that are contributing to Oakland’s public safety challenges.”

“In particular, the CHP has brought to my attention that they observed criminals often fleeing with impunity because it’s common knowledge that the Oakland Police Department’s (“OPD”) pursuit policy allows vehicle pursuits in only very limited circumstances,” Newsom continued. “They observed suspects attempting to escape arrest by using the same routes, concluding that they knew where OPD would discontinue a pursuit. Fortunately, with the resources available to the CHP, including air support, the suspects were unable to evade the six pursuits that the CHP initiated.”

Newsom also recently ordered the removal of homeless encampments in the state, after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that cities have the power to enforce prohibitions on sleeping outdoors publicly.

The governor said he supports the city council’s push for a review of the policy due to the city’s “public safety challenges.”

“I urge you to reconsider whether OPD should be permitted to pursue suspects in more circumstances to improve public safety in your city and to establish a process to evaluate whether OPD is making full use of its authority, including that granted under the existing pursuit policy, to protect public safety and enforce the law,” he wrote in the letter.

He responded Friday to a local news outlet’s post about him pushing for the tightening of the policy: “No more excuses.”

Council member Noel Gallo told The Hill that he is in line with Newsom’s position on the policy.

In an emailed statement to The Hill, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (D) said she is going along with “Governor Newsom and the City Council to implore the members of the Oakland Police Commission to fulfill their mandate to the residents of Oakland by reviewing the OPD pursuit policy and making the necessary changes to bring the department in line with our regional counterparts.”

OPD spokesperson Paul Chambers directed The Hill to the mayor’s office.

Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas said in a statement emailed to The Hill that she is in favor of “reevaluating policies on an ongoing basis to provide the best safety outcomes for our community.”

The Hill has reached out to members of the Oakland City Council, the Oakland Police Commission and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (D).

Updated at 2:44 p.m. EST on July 27.