I have a couple of questions regarding the California Highway Patrol (CHP).?

Question

1. If a CHP officer is patrolling the streets and he see's a fight can he arrest the people that were fighting?
2. If a CHP officer is patrolling the streets and someone flags her down and the person that flagged the CHP officer down says my boyfriend or girlfriend hit me can the CHP officer investigate and make an arrest?
3. Lets say a CHP officer is near a 911 call about any type of burglary, can the CHP officer respond?

Answer 1

1. Yes. In fact ANYBODY who witnesses a crime in progress can make an arrest.

2. The CHP would have jurisdiction to do so, but since they do not ordinarily patrol city streets the situation is unlikely to arise. If it did, unless there was some immediate danger, it is more probable they would turn the matter over to local law enforcement.

3. A 911 call about a burglary would not ordinarily be routed to the CHP, but to local law enforcement. I think it very likely if a CHP heard such a call the officer would assume that local law enforcement was responding and CHP participation would be unnecessary.

Answer 2

1. yes anywhere in the state

2. yes but normally they make sure all is safe and call for locals to do investigation and arrest if warranted

3 yes, they are expected to, at least staying around until locals show up.

Answer 3

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

Answer 4

Thank you!