By james art
SAN BERNARDINO, CA (VVNG.com) — In a continuing effort to strengthen public safety in California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new operation involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in the city of San Bernardino.
This initiative is intended to provide additional CHP personnel to handle property theft and serious crimes, including gun violence incidents.
“We are sending additional support to the CHP to help local law enforcement aggressively suppress criminal activity and provide this community with a new level of safety and accountability.” Whether in the Bay Area, Central Valley or Southern California, we are watching and ready to step in and support local law enforcement to protect communities and keep Californians safe,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran expressed gratitude for the CHP’s increased support. “We are grateful to Governor Newsom for providing additional support from the California Highway Patrol to the City of San Bernardino,” she said. “This year, the efforts of our city police department have resulted in a 13 percent reduction in violent crime, and the additional support will enhance public safety in our community.” With this new state and local collaboration in San Bernardino, we can continue to impact criminal enterprises targeting our neighborhoods and businesses.”
Recent statistics show that San Bernardino has a violent crime rate that is nearly twice the state average, with a homicide rate three times the state average. The city also has high rates of vehicle theft and increased reports of traffic violations, including sideshows that compromise public safety.
The CHP operation will include the deployment of specialized law enforcement units on the ground and in the air to target illegal activity and stolen vehicles. In addition, the CHP will offer investigative assistance to the San Bernardino Police Department to disrupt organized crime, reduce gun violence and remove illegal firearms from circulation.
“Our partnership with the City of San Bernardino strengthens our efforts to improve public safety,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Dury. “This collaboration allows us to share resources, intelligence and expertise, improving our ability to reduce crime and create a safer environment for all members of the community.”
This initiative builds on the CHP’s previous collaboration with local law enforcement agencies in California, including operations in Oakland, San Francisco and Bakersfield. These efforts resulted in over 3,200 arrests, nearly 3,000 recovered stolen vehicles, and the seizure of more than 170 illegal firearms and various illegal drugs, including fentanyl.
Additionally, this initiative complements Governor Newsom’s ongoing investments to assist local law enforcement in combating organized retail theft. Last year, it awarded more than $267 million to 55 local law enforcement agencies, resulting in more than 10,000 arrests in just nine months.
Through the CHP’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, the state has apprehended more than 3,200 suspects, recovered more than 880,276 stolen items valued at more than $46 million, and conducted more than 3,045 investigations.
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