California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) will deploy “crime suppression teams” throughout the state amid President Trump’s crime crackdown.
“When the state and local communities work together strategically, public safety improves. While the Trump Administration undermines cities, California is partnering with them — and delivering real results,” said Newsom in a press release.
“With these new deployments, we’re doubling down on these partnerships to build on progress and keep driving crime down,” he continued.
Teams of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will work with local law enforcement in San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area.
“I want to thank the Governor for being a collaborative partner. The best way to address crime and other top challenges is through partnership and this is an example of that,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) in a press release.
Newsom, in a video posted to X, said, The President is doing things TO PEOPLE. California is doing it WITH PEOPLE.”
CHP will work through intelligence sharing, crime deterrence techniques, assist in investigative work and increase law enforcement visibility.
“These crime suppression teams will provide critical support to our local partners by focusing on crime where it happens most,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee in a press release.
“By combining resources, intelligence, and personnel, we can better disrupt criminal activity and strengthen the safety and security of communities across California,” he continued.
CHP officers were already deployed in San Bernardino, in Oakland, where crime had declined by 34 percent since 2024 and in Bakersfield, where homicides dropped by 57 percent and shootings by 60 percent.
This comes as Trump has federalized the Washington, D.C., metropolitan police to fight crime, which has been at a 30-year low, according to city data. Trump has also threatened to send the National Guard to other democratically run cities such as Chicago and Baltimore.
Trump and Newsom have had tense relations in the past few weeks. Newsom has been a very vocal critic of the president and has been trolling him on social media.
In a major point of contention between the two, in California this week, the court will decide whether Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles during the immigration protests in July was illegal, as federal troops were used for civil law enforcement.
Moreover, on Aug. 12, the president threatened to send the National Guard to Los Angeles again.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in response, “Absolute, complete, transparent, blatant, brazen violation of the law. The Posse Comitatus Act said you cannot use military to engage in civilian law enforcement on American soil. Period, full stop.”
The GOP’s tough stance on crime has always benefited them with voters. Democrats, on the other hand, appear vulnerable when it comes to public safety.
This move by Newsom, who is expected to make a presidential bid in 2028, could be an attempt to improve the public image of democrats towards fighting violent crime.
