FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2023
Contact: Pati Navalta, pnavalta@oaklandca.gov
MAYOR THAO ANNOUNCES NEW COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM TO EXPAND PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTs
Oakland - Oakland’s Mayor Sheng Thao today announced a new partnership with Governor Newsom and the California Highway Patrol to support the City’s efforts to prevent crime. Mayor Thao, in collaboration with the Oakland Police Department (OPD), has secured State support to expand community safety strategies underway in the City.
This new partnership includes the deployment of California Highway Patrol officers to assist in traffic enforcement along high injury corridors in Oakland. The goal is to target reckless driving, auto theft, sideshows and highway shootings while allowing OPD officers to focus their efforts on solving violent crime.
The Office of the Governor will also advance the City of Oakland $1.2 million in state funding to accelerate the purchase and installation of automated license plate readers, which will help OPD collect evidence and solve crime.
“Strong partnerships are critical in making our City safer,” said Mayor Thao. “Our comprehensive community safety approach includes both accountability for those who commit crime as well as prevention and deterrence efforts to stop crime before it occurs. I am grateful to Gov. Newsom for granting my request for additional support. Working collaboratively with the Office of the Governor, California Highway Patrol and other state and regional partners allows us to expand our impact and meet the need in the community. I’m thankful to all those who work tirelessly each day to reach our shared goal of building a safe city for all.”
In addition to these new partnerships, under Mayor Thao, Oakland has taken several steps to strengthen community safety and prevent crime:
- New deployments of foot patrols and motorcycle units
- Expansion of MACRO, civilian responders to non-violent, non-emergency calls
- Stepped up efforts, in coordination with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, to combat illegal sideshows
- Funding for six new police academies
- Funding for the Department of Violence Prevention to assist in its mission to deter crime and disrupt the cycle of violence
- Collaboration with Oakland Unified School District and community partners to improve school safety
- Summer youth employment and, in collaboration with OUSD, summer services to help keep young people engaged in positive activities
- Working with the business community to leverage technology so we can deter crime
“These partnerships will help improve traffic safety where it’s most needed while enabling our police department to focus resources on improved responsiveness and addressing crime,” said City Administrator Jestin Johnson. “I applaud Mayor Thao and Governor Newsom for their partnership to address these challenges because public safety is our shared top priority.”
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