WASHINGTON (TNND) — California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he'll be deploying California Highway Patrol "crime suppression teams" to work with local law enforcement in stomping out criminal activity in major cities.

The deployment of the crime suppression teams, which "will saturate high-crime areas, target repeat offenders, and seize illicit weapons and narcotics," comes amid President Donald Trump's threats to deploy the National Guard to other major cities.

The president already deployed the National Guard in response to the ICE protests in Los Angeles, despite Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass opposing the move.

"When the state and local communities work together strategically, public safety improves," Newsom said in a statement. "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 CHP crime suppression teams will be deployed to six major cities and regions in the state: San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The governor's office shared that the CHP will work to support law enforcement by "sharing intelligence, coordinating enforcement, and assisting with investigations."

In addition, the CHP task forces will provide increased visibility and presence in communities most impacted by crime and conduct operations that will "deter and disrupt organized crime."

“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. “By combining resources, intelligence, and personnel, we can better disrupt criminal activity and strengthen the safety and security of communities across California.”

The CHP crime suppression teams had already been deployed in three other California cities — Bakersfield, San Bernardino and Oakland — in 2024, resulting in over 9,000 arrests, the confiscation of 400 firearms and the recovery of 5,800 stolen vehicles.

Crime in California has been on a downward trend, with a 6% decrease in the violent crime rate and an 8.4% decrease in the property crime rate in 2024.

Oakland saw a 30% drop in violent crime reported by the police department, and San Francisco saw a 22% drop this year.

The state's homicide rate in 2024 is the second lowest it has been in 1966, with a 12% drop in homicides since 2023.

Meanwhile, the governor's office pointed to CDC data from 2023, which shows that the GOP-led states of Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and South Carolina have more than double the murder rate that California has.

"President Trump is peddling the same tired lie he used in Los Angeles — claiming there’s rampant lawlessness in Democratic cities like Washington, D.C. The truth? GOP-led cities have higher crime rates," Newsom said in a statement. "His authoritarian orders aren’t about safety — they’re an attack on the very foundation of our nation and a slap in the face to democracy."

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