Vallejo Residents Urge Newsom to Deploy Highway Patrol to Address Crime Surge

A petition with over 3,500 signatures calls for state assistance as Vallejo faces rising crime and a severe police staffing shortage.

Vallejo residents, led by Paula Conley, have petitioned Governor Gavin Newsom to send California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers to assist with increasing crime, citing parallels to Oakland's successful state-supported crime reduction efforts.
The city has seen a rise in murders, rapes, and larceny in 2024, with residents reporting rampant drug activity, prostitution, and dangerous car sideshows, which have led to fatalities.
The Vallejo Police Department is operating with only 75 officers, far below its authorized staffing level of 129, leading to slow or nonexistent response times for many incidents.
Governor Newsom has acknowledged the city's challenges but emphasized that Vallejo must address its police staffing issues locally, rejecting the notion of CHP replacing local law enforcement duties for free.
CHP has been collaborating with Vallejo police since July, conducting traffic stops and arrests, but residents and city leaders argue that more robust state support is urgently needed.