Newsom presses Oakland to change strict policy on police chases
Family man killed during Oakland police chase files wrongful death suit
The family of a Tongan man who stopped at a taco truck with his mother after a graduation ceremony and then was killed during an Oakland police pursuit, sued the city of Oakland on Thursday, alleging the officers engaged in an unauthorized "ghost chase," leading to his death and injuries to his relatives.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Oakland leaders on Friday, urging them to re-evaluate restrictions on police pursuits.
First obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, the letter was addressed to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the city council, and the police commission.
Newsom is pushing for the city to consider additional circumstances under which officers may chase suspects.
This follows Newsom's deployment of additional California Highway Patrol officers to assist Oakland police with organized crime, sideshows and carjackings.
"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. They observed suspects attempting to escape arrest by using the same routes, concluding that they knew where OPD would discontinue a pursuit," Newsom wrote.
The Oakland Police Commission is reviewing the city’s pursuit policy and may propose amendments in the fall.
"The Oakland Police Commission was tasked with reviewing the Oakland Police Department's pursuit policy and making recommendations to the Oakland City Council. We are diligently reviewing and completing that task, and our recommendations will be sent to the Oakland City Council and the Mayor," said Marsha Peterson, the Oakland police commission chair.
CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee shared with the Chronicle that he witnessed seven high-speed pursuits within four hours while out with officers in Oakland two weeks ago.
Duryee said a change is necessary because suspects tend to flee, knowing the Oakland Police Department's strict pursuit policy, which prevents officers from pursuing unless the suspect is accused of a violent forcible crime or one involving guns.
OPD did not offer comment for this story and referred us to the mayor's office.
Mayor Thao provided the following written statement:
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"I join 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. Safety is my number one priority, but we know it requires the effort of every part of the system to tackle this complex issue. I am tremendously grateful to the Governor and CHP for their continued partnership as we work hand in hand to build a safer Oakland. I encourage the Police Commission to join us in this effort."
City councilmember Dan Kalb, meantime, expressed concern about potential changes to the policy that might be too extreme.
"We have to be very careful about not going too far in the other direction," said Kalb. "I do want to caution us, maybe we need some adjustments, but I don’t want to go too far to the point where every little thing is getting a high speed chase and someone gets killed who is an innocent bystander."
In downtown Oakland, Ventino Carillo, whose nightclub was burglarized this week, applauded the governor's move.
"It’s time to step up and do things for small business and really go after these criminals and give the police the tools that they need to make things right," said Carillo, owner of LGBTQ nightclub Que Rico. "The cops have the ability to catch these guys, but their hands are tied with the city."
Surveillance video captured the thieves helping themselves to more than $25,000 worth of top shelf liquor early Tuesday morning. Carillo said it was the 10th time in three years his club had been broken into. This time, Oakland police arrived within minutes.
"They actually saw the vehicles leave the scene…but they could not pursue them, because of Oakland’s no-chase policies."
Carillo said he was hoping to recoup some of his losses through a GoFundMe and during a music and drag street festival outside his club on August 3rd.