CHP Partners With Stockton Police To Assist In Crime Crackdown
STOCKTON (CBS13) - A 14-year-old has been arrested after he is found with a loaded gun on a Stockton school campus. This gun arrest comes as California Highway Patrol officers officially hit the streets to help Stockton police fight back against crime.
The two agencies are combining efforts for at least three months.
"It's very troubling and alarming times right now," said Chief Eric Jones, Stockton Police Department.
The city's homicide rate is at an all-time high of 61 in 2012.
With only two months left in the year, there's little question that number will grow.
Police say guns and gangs continue to be problems.
Thursday, a 14-year-old student was arrested after school district police found a loaded gun on him.
"There's no magic barrier that protects school from city, and some of our students have very foolishly brought guns on campus," said Chief Jim West, Stockton Unified School District Police Department.
CHP officers will team up with the department's specialized community response team. CHP officers will now add extra help to about two dozen officers proactively seeking out criminals. However, the departments still aren't saying how many CHP officers they'll get.
"It will enhance that effort and put more visible, marked patrol cars to give a better law enforcement presence out on our streets," said Jones.
"More eyes and ears, more marked patrol units," said Captain Rob Patrick, CHP.
