Governor sends mixed messages on CHP support for Vallejo

OAKLAND – Facing calls for the California Highway Patrol to bolster the depleted Vallejo Police Department, Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that support would be limited and suggested that the city continue to seek support from the Solano County Sheriff's Office. 

“I just want folks in Vallejo to know, you are not getting the CHP to do the work of local law enforcement,” Newsom said during a news conference on Friday.

“They think the state's going to come in and provide the support for free,” Newsom said. “They have a lot of vacant positions, I guess they get budget savings. And instead of contracting, for example, with the sheriff's office in the county, they're hoping to get the state to do it for free. We're not going to be in that business.”

The press conference was held to denote successful elements of CHP assistance in Oakland and to urge the Oakland Police Commission to change a policy that limits police pursuits to incidents in which officers suspect a felony offence or likelihood of public endangerment. But while the CHP has been providing some support in Vallejo, Newsom said that the city would not receive the same level of support as Oakland.

In February, Vallejo resident Paula Conely circulated a petition urging the Governor to deploy CHP officers in Vallejo which has since accrued 3,500 signatures. Then in June, Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell and Interim Police Chief Jason Ta sent a letter to Newsom requesting CHP support. And in July, Councilmember Cristina Arriola organized a caravan to the Vallejo CHP office to request the agency’s support.

“We have considered those requests,” CHP Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp said on Friday. “I believe it is important for everyone to note we don't have infinite resources as the California Highway Patrol to go in and take over police responsibilities.” He added that the CHP itself currently has a 14% vacancy rate. 

“With that said, we do recognize we need to assist the city of Vallejo and since July, we have had CHP officers, as they're working their beats out of our Fairfield office, that they go off the freeway, and they've made over 600 traffic enforcement stops,” Beauchamp said. “They've made 32 arrests, and they've assisted the Vallejo Police Department on over 40 active incidents.”

Since February, the CHP has deployed 120 officers to work in partnership with local law enforcement agencies in Oakland. Then in July, Newsom increased the support by quadrupling the number of CHP officer shifts in Oakland.  

In a statement released after Friday’s news conference, Newsom’s office said that “the CHP is helping to bolster police presence” in Vallejo. 

“Units from the CHP’s Solano Area office are being directed to support city streets when available, reinforcing local efforts,” the governor’s statement said. “Additionally, the CHP is coordinating with the Vallejo Police Department to provide assistance for upcoming operations and surges, ensuring a stronger, united approach to keeping the community safe.”

News outlets widely reported that Newsom is expanding the CHP surges to Vallejo. But Vallejo City Manager Andrew Murray released his own statement Friday saying that those reports were inaccurate.

“The Governor has not committed to a CHP ‘surge’ for the City of Vallejo,” Murray wrote. “CHP has been providing additional enforcement in Vallejo when their officers have free patrol time. Additionally, the CHP continues to provide mutual aid assistance to Vallejo during sideshows or other major crime events, as do other allied police agencies.” 

CHP Sgt. Andrew Barclay said in an interview that there are basically two pathways for a local law enforcement agency to receive state support. The first involves contracting with the county sheriff’s office for additional law enforcement personnel. If the sheriff's office does not have sufficient staffing to offer additional support they can petition the California Office of Emergency Services for support. 

The second pathway for the governor to directly order the CHP to provide assistance, as he did for Oakland.

According to Barclay, the CHP Golden Gate Division has been providing additional support to Vallejo since July and currently there are three units that will go off the Highways to patrol city streets when they do not have other calls or duties.

Barclay said that CHP also coordinates with the Vallejo Police Department to support law enforcement actions that require additional technology or manpower such as interrupting sideshows. 

But he said that the current efforts are essentially what the CHP provides to any allied jurisdiction in need of assistance and it does not represent an additional mobilization of forces directed by the governor’s office.

Vallejo has been seeking help to bolster its depleted staff since last year, when the City Council declared a state of emergency because of low police staffing. In September, Newsom signed a bill authorizing retired Solano County Sheriff’s deputies to work additional hours beyond limits set for pension purposes in order to provide support to the city of Vallejo.

On Dec. 17, Vallejo police Deputy Chief Bob Knight presented a report on police staffing to the City Council in which he briefly discussed the status of Vallejo’s request for assistance from the sheriff’s office.

“We're just kind of waiting for a final proposal of what it is they're asking for and what it is we can come to some type of agreement to. Those talks continue to be positive, from my perspective,” Knight said.

Knight said that over the past year the department hired three new officers. Eight officers who were on leave for injuries have returned to full duty, bringing the city’s number of total sworn officers to 76. 

Knight said that the increase in officers has allowed for 38 officers to be on patrol, although 48 officers are needed to fully staff all patrol teams. He said the modest gains will allow the department to reopen the collapsed traffic division in January by assigning one full-time officer to focus on traffic enforcement.