The residents of this Bay Area city are urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to deploy the CHP to address the crime issue.
A Vallejo resident seeks assistance from Newsom, who dispatched California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland in 2024 to combat crime.
The California Highway Patrol will increase its presence in a Bay Area city to combat crime, following a petition by a resident that called for state leaders to deploy officers to address a local police shortage.
Resident Paula Conley wrote in a petition on Change.org that the enclave of Vallejo has become more dangerous due to car sideshows, drug crime, shootings, and shoplifting.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was urged by Conley and other residents to deploy California Highway Patrol officers to Vallejo in a similar manner to how he sent CHP officers to Oakland earlier in 2024 to address a crime surge there.
"We observed a decline in crime statistics and an improvement in quality of life as we gained better control over crime, just like Oakland," Conley stated to Planet Chronicle Digital. "As a smaller city, we face the same challenges, and it will require additional resources to effectively address the issue."
"We're not asking for it lightly. This has been a crisis situation for a very long time. Our leadership still lacks urgency in handling it, and at some point, someone must intervene," she stated.
In her petition, Conley argued that deploying CHP officers and Solano County sheriff's deputies to Vallejo would help reduce crime, act as a deterrent to potential offenders, and assist an overburdened police force.
Since July, the CHP has helped the Vallejo Police Department with 600 traffic stops and 32 arrests, as announced by Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp at a news conference in Oakland last week.
Beauchamp stated that CHP leaders have met with Sheriff Thomas Ferrara and are "committed" to collaborating with Vallejo Interim Police Chief Jason Ta to address the illegal street racing and sideshows that are affecting the community.
Last week, Newsom acknowledged the demand for a CHP presence in Vallejo but emphasized that city officials must resolve the police staffing shortages.
"The individual stated that the people in Vallejo need to understand that the CHP will not be taking on the role of local law enforcement. They believe that since the state will provide support, they can hire more officers without paying for it. However, the individual clarified that the CHP will not be involved in this arrangement as they will not be providing free services."
We are in the business of support, as evidenced by our actions in Vallejo, where we are providing assistance.
Conley agreed that Vallejo authorities need to address police staffing issues.
"Vallejo's police department must operate efficiently, just as Oakland's does, in order to improve the city's decline, according to the mayor. She agrees with the governor's responsibility to support the city in taking control of the rebuilding process."
In September, the governor signed emergency legislation to enable retired Solano County sheriff's deputies to return to the force full-time to assist Vallejo's public safety needs. Currently, the Vallejo Police Department has only 75 officers out of 129 available positions, as Vallejo police Sgt. Rashad Hollis informed Planet Chronicle Digital.
The city was aware of Conley's petition, as stated by Vallejo City Manager Andrew Murray.
"Vallejo Police Department and city leaders issued a statement through Planet Chronicle Digital, where Mayor Murray expressed respect and appreciation for the community's right to voice their concerns about public safety in Vallejo. The statement also mentioned that the Mayor, City Council, and Murray have recently sent requests for law enforcement support to the Governor, State, and regional agencies."
Acknowledged Murray, rebuilding the beleaguered police department is a top priority, and the department coordinates daily with neighboring law enforcement agencies.
The Solano County Sheriff's Office assists local authorities in Vallejo by responding to certain calls, as stated by Sheriff's Sgt. Rex Hawkins. The sheriff's office is currently preparing a service proposal to be submitted to the city of Vallejo.
When the contract for services is signed, the process of building a law enforcement response will begin, as stated by Hawkins to Planet Chronicle Digital.
A decrease in the quality of life among some Vallejo residents has been attributed to the insufficient number of police officers.
In 2024, the city recorded 24 murders from December 27 to the same time period the previous year, an increase from 21, according to police data. Additionally, there were more reports of rapes and larceny. However, there were slight decreases in vehicle break-ins, thefts, assaults, and robberies.
A Vallejo resident who refused to give his last name due to fear of retaliation from local criminals told Planet Chronicle Digital that he has observed a general decline in the city since moving there more than two years ago, after living in San Francisco for two decades.
""The criminal elements exploit the lack of police presence in the city to engage in drug houses and prostitution," he stated."
"San Francisco is safer than Vallejo. I feel comfortable walking around San Francisco at night. Vallejo, I wouldn't feel safe walking around at night due to the high crime rate," Scott, 54, stated. "The media often portrays San Francisco negatively. There isn't much of a comparison between the two cities."
In July, Vallejo city leaders declared a police staffing emergency, granting the police chief and city manager the authority to address the issue, such as seeking help from the sheriff's office and CHP.
While Murray stated that advancements were being made in addressing police staffing, he acknowledged that there is still more work to be done.
""We work closely with neighboring law enforcement agencies on a daily basis and appreciate their ongoing mutual aid support. Moving forward, we are open to exploring more formalized police service support to improve public safety in our community," he stated."
The deployment of more CHP officers to Vallejo would occur after Newsom had the state agency send officers to Oakland in February to address crime, including vehicle and organized retail theft and violent crime.
"While crime rates in California decrease, including in San Francisco, Oakland experiences an increase in crime," Newsom stated. "This trend in this city and its surrounding areas is concerning and unacceptable. I am sending the California Highway Patrol to support local efforts to restore a sense of safety that the people of Oakland and the East Bay deserve."
Since February, the governor has quadrupled the number of shifts CHP officers conduct in the city after the recovery of over a thousand stolen cars, seizure of 55 guns linked to crimes, and the arrest of 562 suspects in the East Bay.
Last week, Newsom declared that CHP would continue to be present in Oakland for another month to enhance law enforcement in the area. Additionally, he criticized local leaders for not modifying a policy that restricts police chases of fleeing criminals, despite his request during the summer, stating "they had an opportunity and they did not act on it."
Vallejo lies roughly 25 miles south of Oakland.
According to a statement from Newsom's office, the CHP's efforts in Vallejo were highlighted in a statement from the agency.
Sgt. Andrew Barclay of the CHP stated that the organization is active in Vallejo and will collaborate with community stakeholders, including its police department, to maintain the safety and security of the community.
The Solano area office of CHP has been instructed to provide law enforcement assistance to Vallejo police chief Ta to enhance the police presence in the area, according to Barclay.
Conley stated that much of the feedback in response to her petition has been positive, citing her frustration as the reason for its creation.
""I've tried working with our city and county to get answers, but I'm at a loss. I've never done a petition before, and there's a lot of apathy in our city because things have been bad for a long time and they seem to stay that way. Let's go to the governor," she said."
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