A new group of 130 cadets has graduated from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy in West Sacramento and will begin serving communities across the state on August 11. These officers completed a 26-week training program that covered traffic enforcement, collision investigation, defensive tactics, firearms proficiency, emergency vehicle operations, legal responsibilities, communication skills, and ethical conduct.
Governor Gavin Newsom recognized the new officers’ achievement. “The women and men joining the state’s law enforcement family today are the very best of California. May they continue protecting our communities, promoting our values, and staying safe in the line of duty,” Governor Newsom said.
The addition of these officers follows California’s completion of its multi-year recruitment goal to hire 1,000 new CHP officers by November 2024. The CHP is continuing to recruit individuals interested in law enforcement careers offering comprehensive training and opportunities for advancement.
California has allocated $1.7 billion since 2019 to enhance public safety efforts statewide. In 2023, as part of a broader Public Safety Plan, Governor Newsom announced increased investments targeting organized retail crime and expanded special operations across California.
In August last year, Governor Newsom signed bipartisan legislation designed to address property crime more effectively. These laws provide additional tools for law enforcement agencies to tackle offenses such as smash-and-grab robberies and auto burglaries.
Regional partnerships between the CHP and local law enforcement have focused on areas including Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino to suppress vehicle thefts. These coordinated efforts have led to disruptions among auto thieves and organized crime groups in Alameda, Kern, and San Bernardino counties.
Recent data from the California Department of Justice indicates that most major crime categories—including violent crime, property crime, homicide, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and robbery—declined in 2024. The state’s homicide rate is now at its second lowest level since at least 1966; homicides dropped by nearly 12% compared to 2023. The number of full-time criminal justice personnel also increased by almost two percent over the same period.
California reported a year-over-year drop in vehicle thefts—the first since 2019—with stolen vehicles down by 13% from 2023 to 2024. Nearly all stolen vehicles were recovered during this time.
