California Governor Gavin Newsom is sending California Highway Patrol troopers to various cities in California to address crime and community issues in an apparent effort to parallel the recent activity of the federal government in other states.
“When the state and local communities work together strategically, public safety improves,” Governor Newsom said Thursday. “While the Trump Administration undermines cities, California is partnering with them—and delivering real results. With these new deployments, we’re doubling down on these partnerships to build on progress and keep driving crime down.”
The cities where the Highway Patrol—called “Crime Suppression Teams” will be operating are San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
“These crime suppression teams will provide critical support to our local partners by focusing on crime where it happens most,” California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a news release. “By combining resources, intelligence, and personnel, we can better disrupt criminal activity and strengthen the safety and security of communities across California.”
According to the news release, the Crime Suppression Teams will:
- “Identify and suppress criminal activity in high-crime areas through data and intelligence-led policing.
- Conduct proactive enforcement operations designed to deter and disrupt organized crime.
- Provide increased CHP visibility and presence in communities most impacted by crime.
- Support local law enforcement by sharing intelligence, coordinating enforcement, and assisting with investigations.
- Maintain strict accountability through structured leadership, clear reporting, and operational oversight.”
According to Politico, Newsom said he is “not reacting and responding to anything” concerning President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles in June, and also to Washington, DC, in August.
“As it relates to the president in particular, he’s doing things to people, not with people, and it’s a point of profound, consequential contrast. He’s de facto militarizing American cities,” Newsom further told reporters.
Newsom justifies his deployment of the Highway Patrol by mentioning a similar endeavor in 2024, where the Patrol was sent to certain cities, resulting in thousands of arrests.
At a Politico Summit on Thursday, the governor also called ICE President Trump’s “private police force.” US Border Czar Tom Homan responded to this comment with critical remarks for the governor.
“Newsom is an embarrassment to the position he holds. Hard stop,” Homan said to the press. “If he had an ounce of integrity he’d be calling President Trump and thanking him for making LA safer. He’d be calling the head of ICE and thanking them for the thousands of criminals, public safety threats they’ve taken off the streets of California.”
