Golden State Today

Eight weeks following the launch of a localized enforcement effort by Governor Gavin Newsom, in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Bakersfield Police Department, crime rates in Bakersfield are showing a significant reduction. The initiative has resulted in 302 arrests and the recovery of 182 stolen vehicles.

Governor Newsom expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating, “We are working together with local partners throughout California to make our communities safe and secure. Through this collaboration between the CHP and the Bakersfield Police Department, we continue to deliver measurable results and make Bakersfield’s streets safer.”

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh also voiced her appreciation for the collaborative efforts. She said, “Protecting the safety of our communities in Bakersfield is a top priority. I am thankful to Governor Newsom and the CHP for the already positive enforcement results while working with our local law enforcement to take down crime in the area.”

The collaborative effort includes daily enforcement operations and comprehensive law enforcement activities. For instance, on May 1, a one-day traffic enforcement and crime suppression operation was conducted which resulted in 59 issued citations, 14 impounded vehicles, seven recovered stolen vehicles, and six individuals arrested.

“Law enforcement working together has proven to disrupt criminal activity,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP is committed to collaborating with local law enforcement partners, like the Bakersfield Police Department, to combat crime and safeguard California’s communities.”

Kern County has historically had higher rates of violent crime, property crime, and arrest rates compared to statewide averages. However, through this partnership between local police departments and state-level authorities such as CHP, there has been a noticeable reduction in criminal activity.

In addition to these localized efforts in Bakersfield, broader initiatives have been implemented across California. The Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program awarded $6.2 million to the Bakersfield Police Department to prevent and respond to organized retail theft, motor vehicle or motor vehicle accessory theft, and cargo theft. This grant program represents the largest single investment to combat organized retail crime in state history.

The state has also seen success with the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force. Since January 2024, the task force has conducted 220 investigations, leading to 541 arrests and the recovery of more than 185,000 stolen goods valued at $4.6 million.

California's fight against crime began in earnest in 2019 with significant investments in resources and personnel aimed at improving public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Real Public Safety Plan, Governor Newsom announced an unprecedented investment to combat organized retail crime.