15,000+ arrests. 7,000+ stolen vehicles recovered. Crime Suppression Teams deliver results across California

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Sep 1, 2026

15,000+ arrests. 7,000+ stolen vehicles recovered. Crime Suppression Teams deliver results across California

One year after expanding to six regions statewide, CHP's crime suppression model continues delivering results in partnership with local law enforcement

What you need to know: Governor Newsom announces that the California Highway Patrol's (CHP) Crime Suppression Teams have made 15,197 arrests, recovered 7,042 stolen vehicles, and seized 656 illicit firearms since the program launched in 2023. Launched by the Governor in 2023, the teams are part of California's broader state-local public safety strategy as statewide crime is at historic lows.

SACRAMENTO – As California's Crime Suppression Teams have been bringing state and local law enforcement together to target the people and networks driving crime, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the results continue to add up.

Since the program was launched by the Governor in 2023, CHP's Crime Suppression Teams have made 15,197 arrests, recovered 7,042 stolen vehicles, and seized 656 illicit firearms throughout communities statewide.

One of the most important things we can do to make Californians safer is ensure our state and local law enforcement agencies have the resources and capacity to work together. We'll keep investing in those partnerships and enforcement strategies that are leading to major drops in crime.

Governor Gavin Newsom

From San Francisco to statewide

The Governor launched the first Crime Suppression Team in San Francisco in 2023, establishing a model focused on proactive, intelligence-driven enforcement and close coordination with local partners.

The strategy was then expanded to additional communities in 2024, including Oakland, San Bernardino and Bakersfield, as CHP worked with local agencies to respond to concentrated crime and emerging threats.

In August 2025, California took the next step: expanding these dedicated teams to six regions statewide, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego.

Today, CHP Crime Suppression Teams operate across six regions, working alongside local law enforcement to bring more officers, intelligence and sustained enforcement to communities where it is needed most. The partnership between CHP and local law enforcement agencies targets auto theft, violent crime, organized criminal activity, illegal firearms, drug trafficking and other crimes that do not stop at a city or county line.

Recruiting and hiring for CHP officers is an essential part of why this work has been successful. Earlier this week, Governor Newsom visited with CHP's third and final cadet class of 2026, recognizing the next generation of CHPl officers as they prepare to serve communities across the state. Nearly 400 cadets will graduate this year, bringing the total number of CHP cadets who have graduated since 2019 to more than 2,900.

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One year of statewide enforcement

Since the statewide expansion in August of last year, CHP Crime Suppression Teams have made 5,949 arrests, recovered 1,192 stolen vehicles, seized 206 illicit firearms and confiscated nearly 1.7 million grams of illegal drugs.

That includes approximately 108 kilograms — or 240 pounds — of fentanyl, representing more than 54.4 million potentially fatal doses.

"Over the past few years, our Crime Suppression Teams have demonstrated the value of proactive, intelligence-driven enforcement in some of California's most challenging areas," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "One year ago, we built on that success by expanding these teams statewide, giving the CHP greater capacity to address emerging crime trends and support communities. As California's state police, our responsibilities extend beyond the highways. In collaboration with our allied law enforcement partners, we are actively targeting criminal activity, apprehending dangerous offenders, and enhancing safety in communities across our state."

The teams have targeted everything from wanted violent offenders and organized drug trafficking operations to illegal firearms and stolen vehicles.

In February 2026, a CST canine team in Victorville located and helped apprehend a suspect wanted in connection with 15 attempted murder cases after receiving a federal "Be on the Lookout" alert.

In March 2026, a CST canine unit in East Oakland led officers  to a vehicle containing more than three pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax, resulting in felony drug-sales arrests.

In May 2026, a CST enforcement stop in Fresno led to the seizure of a loaded assault-style pistol and helped uncover suspected human trafficking activity, with CHP working alongside Fresno Police Department's VICE unit.

In November 2026, CHP officers conducted a months-long investigation into a major methamphetamine trafficking operation affecting San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.  CHP officers conducted multiple enforcement stops that resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,500 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of approximately $100 million.

Building on California's broader public safety progress

Crime Suppression Teams are one part of California's broader state-local approach to public safety — combining enforcement, intelligence, technology, prosecution, prevention and community partnerships.

That approach is producing measurable results statewide.

Since 2024, California saw double-digit declines in every major crime category tracked, including:
  • Homicide: ↓ 18.6%
  • Robbery: ↓ 19.9%
  • Property crime: ↓ 14.3%
  • Motor vehicle theft: ↓ 25.8%
  • Violent crime: ↓ 10.2%

California's homicide rate is now 3.5 per 100,000 — the lowest rate since statewide reporting began in 1966.

Since Governor Newsom took office, California's homicide rate is down 20%, robbery 31%, property crime 24%, motor vehicle theft 19% and violent crime 3%.

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The expansion of CHP Crime Suppression Teams gives state and local law enforcement another tool to build on that progress — putting more resources where they are needed, targeting the people driving crime and working together to keep Californians safe.

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