BAKERSFIELD,
Calif. – In a significant move to improve public
safety, address roadway violence, and stop criminal activity in Bakersfield,
the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is announcing an expansion of the
state-city partnership to include the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. “The California
Highway Patrol has a great working relationship with the Kern County
Sheriff’s Office, and we are thrilled to welcome them to our ongoing crime
suppression operation with the Bakersfield Police Department,” said CHP
Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This collaboration underscores the strength in
numbers and highlights our shared commitment to making the community safer.
Together, we can more effectively address and combat crime, ensuring a more
secure environment for everyone.” Building on a statewide
initiative to keep California communities safe, Governor Gavin Newsom in
April announced a crime suppression partnership between the CHP and the
Bakersfield Police Department. As part of the coordinated law enforcement
operation, the CHP expanded its enforcement actions in and around Bakersfield
to address auto theft, retail crime, and high-visibility, proactive traffic
enforcement. To help bolster
ongoing efforts in the region, a deputy from the sheriff’s office has been
assigned to the Kern County Auto Theft Task Force, while a CHP officer will
join the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force. Since the onset of
the law enforcement collaboration, the CHP has made over 1,000 arrests,
recovered nearly 450 stolen vehicles, and seized 20 illegal firearms. The
work in the area includes day-to-day enforcement and comprehensive
operations. The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and
Security. | 
