The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has concluded a four-month partnership with Bakersfield police to tackle organized crime and vehicle thefts, returning 677 arrests since the effort began in March.
The effort also led to the recovery of 338 stolen vehicles and the seizure of 16 crime-linked firearms.
CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said such joint operations are effective in tackling crime.
“By working together on daily enforcement and comprehensive operations, we will continue to see a significant impact on reducing crime in communities,” he said in the press release.
From April to May, arrests were up 56 percent, recovered vehicles rose 24 percent, and recovered firearms rose 33 percent, according to an update given in June.
In May, officials announced the joint operations had also conducted a one-day traffic enforcement effort that resulted in 230 citations issued—mostly for speeding—nine vehicles impounded, nine stolen vehicles recovered, and three felony arrests.
The effort has focused on vehicle theft and organized crime in Kern County, which officials say is experiencing higher reported rates of violent and property crime, and more arrests than the statewide average.
In 2023, Bakersfield was also awarded $6.2 million specifically to combat organized retail theft, as well as motor vehicle and cargo theft, as part of what’s known as the governor’s California’s Real Public Safety Plan, unveiled in December 2021.
Statewide efforts have also resulted in increased arrests, with more than three times the usual “proactive operations” toward organized retail crime performed since January, according to the governor’s recent press release.
The more recent partnership between the CHP and Bakersfield police was thanks to the state’s Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant program, which provided $240 million to city and county police departments statewide to fight increasing crime.
In total, the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has, since January, conducted 185 investigations statewide, arrested 474 individuals, and recovered more than 160,000 stolen goods worth $4.2 million, according to officials.
Last month, Mr. Newsom also announced a 10-point action plan to beautify Bakersfield and Kern County with assistance from California’s Department of Transportation.
The multi-point plan outlines steps the state is taking with local agencies to increase litter collection, clear roadway encampments, update aging equipment, and clean up the overall roadway system, according to a press release by the governor.
