#ICYMI: A roundup of notable incidents involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) this past week, including a powerful winter storm creating treacherous conditions for motorists on I-80, a surge in applications to join the CHP, the arrest of two suspects in connection with a Southern California freeway shooting, Governor Gavin Newsom honoring three CHP officers for their bravery, and proof that you are never too young to learn the importance of
9-1-1.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each announcement. Click on the headlines to access accompanying assets that are available for download.
A brutal winter storm created hazardous conditions along Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line over the weekend. On Friday night, the CHP’s Truckee Area reported, “a mass amount of vehicles were stuck over Donner Summit and it took several hours for emergency personnel and tow trucks to reach the motorists due to blizzard conditions.” All motorists involved were transported to a safe location.
The CHP continued to use social media to offer safety reminders and a firsthand glimpse at the treacherous conditions throughout the weekend.
The CHP is seeing a significant increase in the number of people applying to join one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies. Governor Newsom highlighted new data from the CHP in a press release Feb. 26. The total number of applications received by the CHP in January 2024 was the highest number of monthly applications in seven years, a 94% increase in the total number of applications compared to January 2022. If you are ready to answer the call to service, apply today to join the CHP.
Two suspects wanted in connection with a December 2023 freeway shooting on Interstate 10 in Los Angeles County have been apprehended. In collaboration with multiple allied agencies, the suspects were arrested in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico, on Feb. 21. The two
U.S. citizens from Los Angeles were extradited back to the U.S., where they were taken into custody by awaiting CHP personnel and booked into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s East LA station. Lorraine Covarrubias, 23, was charged with attempted murdered and Robert Sarabia, 25, was charged with being an accessory after the fact.
CHP Officers Aaron Adair, Jeremy Welch, and Troy Wiltshire received the Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor on Feb. 27. In a small ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento, Governor Newsom, joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee, presented the three officers with the highest state award for valor given to a public safety officer.
Commissioner Duryee recognized the officers for their heroic actions in the line of duty, expressing his gratitude to them for upholding their oath in the face of imminent danger. A recording of the ceremony can be viewed here.
Students at Cottage Hill Elementary School in Grass Valley recently had a surprise visit from CHP officers, who were happy to provide a safety lesson about the importance of 9-1-1. Officers taught the kids how to practice memorizing their address and reminded them to put that information in their phones to ensure they are safe at home and at school. No lesson is complete without a show-and-tell segment. Officers provided the students with a look at all the important equipment they
have access to inside of a patrol car, including the radio and the computer system, to help keep the community safe.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service and Security.
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