By james art “We are grateful to Governor Newsom for providing additional support from the California Highway Patrol to the City of San Bernardino.” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran. “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.”
The latest figures show that San Bernardino’s serious crime rate is nearly double the state average, and its homicide rate is more than three times the state average. San Bernardino’s vehicle theft rate remains one of the highest in the state. Local law enforcement in San Bernardino also reported increased traffic and street violations, including sideshows that put public safety at risk.
The CHP operation will add special law enforcement units on the ground and in the air – targeting side hustles and stolen vehicles. The CHP also provides the San Bernardino Police Department with additional investigative support to crack down on organized criminal activity and violent street gangs, get illegal guns off the street and help prevent gun violence.
“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.”
Support law enforcement across the country
This builds on the CHP’s ongoing work with local law enforcement units through jumps across the country, including in Oakland, San Franciscoand Bakersfield. Together, these operations resulted in a total of more than 3,200 arrests, the recovery of nearly 3,000 stolen vehicles, the seizure of more than 170 illegal firearms, and the removal of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, from the streets.
It also builds on the governor’s efforts to directly support local law enforcement through historic investments to address organized retail theft. Last year, Governor Newsom provided 55 local law enforcement agencies with more than $267 million to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of organized retail theft – resulting in more than 10,000 arrests in just nine months. Additionally, through the CHP’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, the state has arrested more than 3,200 suspects, recovered more than 880,276 stolen items valued at more than $46 million and conducted 3,045 investigations.
Stronger law enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.
California has invested more than $1.1 billion to fund resources and personnel to fight crime, help local residents hire more police officers, and improve public safety since 2019. In 2023, as part of California A real public safety planannounced the regional governor the biggest ever investments to combat organized retail crime in state history, annually 310% increasing proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.
The governor signed the law this year the most significant bipartisan legislation to combat property crime in modern California history. Building on the state’s tough laws and record funding for public safety, these bipartisan bills establish tough new penalties for repeat offenders, provide additional tools for prosecuting felons, and crack down on serial shoplifters, retail thieves and car thieves. The governor also signed a bipartisan package of bills to impose tougher penalties, increase accountability and strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies to combat collateral damage and deters illegal activities such as drifting, street racing and blocking intersections.