Joint law enforcement operations launched by California Governor Gavin Newsom in San Bernardino have restored 858 arrests and 66 stolen vehicles since October 2024, the governor’s office announced this week.
The initiative also led to the seizing of 28 illegal firearms and 140 felony arrests, as well as cooperation with state and local agencies.
“As we continue to prioritize community safety and security across the state, efforts made locally in the San Bernardino area between state and local law enforcement will help keep bad actors away from the streets,” Newsmom said in a news release issued Tuesday.
Five illegal firearms recovered during the November 2024 law enforcement surge in San Bernardino are shown in images from the California Highway Patrol.
Law enforcement efforts have seen the California Highway Patrol increase its presence in San Bernardino as part of its strategy to combat violent crime, property theft and vehicle-related crime. Their involvement includes specialized ground and aerial units targeting sideshows and stolen vehicles, officials said.
On March 16, CHP officials arrested the suspect involved in a road rage incident on the 10th highway. Using a high-tech camera system, officers identified the suspect, spotted the suspect allegedly fired a black semi-automatic handgun on another vehicle, and arrested him nearby.
Bullet hole (CHP) seen on the 2024 Honda Civic after the roads fired on March 16, 2025. A semi-automatic firearm loaded on March 16, 2025, allegedly found in the vehicle of a 24-year-old suspect. (CHP)
Newsom says the camera network used in the operation can identify vehicle features beyond license plates and allow real-time alerts to track suspects. Similar technologies have already been deployed in the Bay Area, his office said.
San Bernardino’s efforts are part of a widespread public safety push across California related to the law signed by the governor last August, providing new tools to increase penalties for property crimes and prosecute repeated offenders.
Since 2019, the state has invested $1.1 billion in crime-fighting efforts, including grants to local police departments. In 2023, it launched the biggest investment ever to combat organized retail crime and promoted 310% aggressive enforcement operations across the state, Newsom said.
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