#ICYMI: This week, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) made headlines with several notable incidents, including a retail theft operation success in Border Division, a freeway shooting suspect arrested in San Bernardino, a heroic medical rescue by Valley Division Air Operations helicopter, the welcoming of new motor officers to CHP’s fleet and the rescue of seven puppies, a donkey and a horse.
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 the accompanying assets available for download.
From March 17th to March 21st, Border Division, in partnership with local retailers, executed a successful operation at Las Americas Premium Outlets aimed at addressing retail theft and ensuring the safety of our community. The outcomes of this initiative yielded 80 arrests, including 13 felony arrests; the recovery of 391 stolen items with an estimated asset value exceeding $36,000; strengthened cooperation between law enforcement agencies and retail establishments; and improved security measures and visibility in high-traffic zones, serving as a deterrent to future criminal activities.
On March 16, CHP officers responded to a freeway shooting on westbound I-10, stemming from a road rage incident. Assistance from the Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center, a real-time investigatory center based in Sacramento, led to the identification of the suspect vehicle using FLOCK safety technology. Later that day, the vehicle was located, and two suspects were taken into custody. A loaded firearm was found in the car, and the driver was arrested on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder.
On March 20, Valley Division’s Helicopter-20 (H-20) responded to assist Nevada County Fire and CHP officers in response to a major traffic crash. The incident involved an elderly pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle and suffered critical life-threatening injuries in a remote area of Nevada County. H-20 landed in a designated lot near the location of the collision and airlifted a 73-year-old female with severe injuries to a local hospital for medical care.
Four CHP officers are swapping patrol cars for motorcycles after completing the CHP Motorcycle Officer Training Course—one of the most rigorous and respected law enforcement motorcycle training programs in the nation. Among them is a female officer, who now joins the ranks as one of only three female motor officers in the entire state. Over approximately 84 hours of instruction spanning 10 days, each officer mastered both basic and advanced riding techniques, as well as highway and freeway enforcement maneuvers, high-risk traffic stops, high-speed riding, and motorcycle maintenance. These four officers will return to their respective commands for an additional 240 hours of field training before officially earning the distinguished title of CHP Motor Officer.
5. OFFICERS RESCUE SEVEN PUPPIES, A DONKEY & A HORSE
On March 21, Visalia Area CHP officers went above and beyond to rescue two scared dogs stranded on the freeway. With quick thinking and teamwork, they safely rescued the pups, preventing a dangerous situation for both the dogs and the drivers.
On March 24, San Andreas CHP responded to reports of multiple puppies on the highway within their area. With assistance from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and a Good Samaritan, officers safely rescued five young puppies (under four months old) and took them to the Calaveras Animal Shelter. Along the way, officers stopped at a convenience store to grab food for the hungry pups, where a kind employee even donated a blanket to keep them warm.
On March 25, Ventura CHP added ‘Donkey Wrangler’ to the list of services we provide! An officer came to the rescue of a wayward donkey who decided to take a scenic tour of the area. After some creative teamwork, the donkey was safely returned to its rightful owner. The next day, March 26, officers rescued a horse and steered it back to where they belonged.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
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