In a move to consolidate operations, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has announced the closure of its Castro Valley office, merging it with the existing Hayward branch. The Castro Valley office, which has served the community for two decades, is set to shut its doors on January 12 at 5:00 p.m., making the transition to beef up services through the Hayward location.

The merger is slated to unite the supervision of unincorporated areas such as Fairview, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley under the Hayward CHP's wing. The integration is part of a strategy to streamline services and enhance traffic enforcement without compromising public safety. According to the CHP Hayward Area post on Facebook, those needing specific services, such as VIN verifications or report copies, can make their way to the Hayward office or access certain documents online.

Later in the year, the CHP staff from both offices are expected to relocate to a new, cutting-edge facility at the intersection of Jackson Street and Santa Clara Street in Hayward. This central location is aimed at facilitating quicker response times across their jurisdiction. Officials have indicated that this merger will help reduce unnecessary overlap in duties amongst uniformed officers, yet they assure that patrol levels in the Eden Area will be sustained.

Despite the change in physical presence, the CHP Hayward Area has reiterated its commitment to the communities within their jurisdiction. "The CHP will continue to serve the community and provide the highest level of safety and service," the department emphasized. The assurance of uninterrupted police service aims to maintain, if not improve, the public's reliance on their operational effectiveness and responsiveness.