Newsom deploys CHP to help combat violence in San Bernardino

The California Highway Patrol is stepping in to combat property theft, shootings and more in the city of San Bernardino, where the violent crime rate is about twice the national average.

The CHP surge operation will deploy law enforcement units on the ground and in the air to help San Bernardino police combat sideshows, stolen vehicles, ghost guns and street gangs, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday in announcing the program's launch. The goal of the partnership is to strengthen public safety in one of California's crime-ridden cities.

The city of San Bernardino recorded an estimated violent crime rate of 1,059 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2023, about double the California average of 511 crimes per 100,000 residents, according to data from the San Bernardino Police Department, the U.S. Census and the Department of Justice state.

The city's estimated murder rate in 2023 was 16.2 per 100,000 residents – more than three times the California average of 4.8 per 100,000 residents.

And while these numbers are frightening, they represent a notable improvement over 2022.

San Bernardino, without CHP, has already seen year-over-year declines in violent crime and murder rates, falling 11% and 50%, respectively, in 2023, according to SBPD data. Still, city officials say they welcome the strengthening of law enforcement, and CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said the partnership would strengthen ongoing efforts to improve public safety.

“This collaboration allows us to share resources, information and expertise, improving our ability to reduce crime and create a safer environment for all members of the community,” Duryee said in a statement. There was no information available about the number of CHP officers who would be dispatched to San Bernardino.

Newsom has already launched CHP cleanup operations in several other crime hotspots, including Oakland, San Francisco and Bakersfield. These operations resulted in a total of more than 3,200 arrests, the recovery of nearly 3,000 stolen vehicles, and the seizure of over 170 illegal firearms.

In San Bernardino, the operation will help combat ghost guns, illegal firearms that have no serial numbers and are difficult for law enforcement to link to crimes or owners.

Last year, more than 4,700 ghost guns were confiscated in San Bernardino County, more than any other county in California except Los Angeles.

San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran said she is grateful for the CHP's support to help the city continue to reduce crime rates and catch criminal enterprises that target neighborhoods and businesses.