A joint law enforcement operation launched by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in San Bernardino has resulted in 858 arrests and the recovery of 66 stolen vehicles since October 2024, the Governor’s Office announced this week.
The initiative, a collaboration between state and local agencies, also led to the seizure of 28 illegal firearms and 140 felony arrests.
“As we continue prioritizing the safety and security of our communities statewide, the efforts done regionally in the San Bernardino area between state and local law enforcement are helping keep bad actors off the streets,” Newsom said in a news release issued Tuesday.
The law enforcement operation involves the California Highway Patrol ramping up its presence in San Bernardino as part of a strategy to combat violent crime, property theft and vehicle-related offenses. Their involvement includes specialized ground and aerial units targeting sideshows and stolen vehicles, officials said.
On March 16, CHP officers arrested a suspect involved in a road rage incident on the 10 Freeway. Using high-tech camera systems, officers identified and located the suspect — who allegedly fired a black semiautomatic handgun at another vehicle — and apprehended him nearby.
Newsom says the camera network used in that operation can identify vehicle features beyond license plates, enabling real-time alerts to track suspects. Similar technology is already deployed in the Bay Area, his office said.
The San Bernardino effort is part of a broader public safety push across California related to legislation signed by the Governor last August, which increases penalties for property crime and provides new tools to prosecute repeat offenders.
Since 2019, the state has invested $1.1 billion in crime-fighting efforts, including grants for local police departments. In 2023, it launched the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, boosting proactive enforcement operations by 310% statewide, Newsom said.