Over 1,600 arrests, 47 firearms seized since start of CHP-Kern County crime suppression partnership: Gov. Newsom’s office

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — An ongoing partnership between the California Highway Patrol, Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff’s Office has netted more than 1,600 arrests, the recovery of hundreds of stolen vehicles and dozens of firearms since April, state officials said Monday.

In all, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the law enforcement partnership has made 1,623 arrests, located and recovered 677 stolen vehicles and the seizure of 47 “crime-linked” firearms, Newsom’s office said in a release.

Those numbers also include the arrests of two people on Sept. 28 who allegedly had multiple firearms stored in the spare tire compartment of a vehicle when they were stopped along Highway 58. According to officials, the suspects had five handguns and seven rifles — one of them being reported stolen and a so-called “ghost gun.”

“I thank the California Highway Patrol for their strong partnership with local law enforcement in Bakersfield,” Newsom said in a statement. “Their focused enforcement efforts are addressing the unique challenges of the Central Valley to make the region safer for everyone.”

Newsom announced a partnership between CHP and Bakersfield police back in April . The partnership expanded to include the Kern County Sheriff’s Office in August.

The crime suppression operation in Bakersfield involves CHP officers targeting high-crime areas that includes efforts to curb retail crimes and vehicle thefts.

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