San Joaquin County leaders highlight crime‑fighting units, anti‑fentanyl push and retail‑theft initiative

San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow and District Attorney Ron Freitas used the county's Sept. 12 State of the County address to describe expanded enforcement and prosecution efforts aimed at reducing violent crime, disrupting fentanyl distribution and holding retail thieves accountable.

Sheriff Pat Withrow said the sheriff's office has created a special services division to address homelessness‑related issues and ag‑related crimes and has added patrol motorcycles, a mounted unit and a dive team to protect waterways. "Violent crimes in the county...are down 20%, and overall crimes throughout our county, 32%" he said, crediting those operations and board support.

Withrow also described operational changes at correctional facilities and on the streets: a new jail criminal‑investigations unit, expanded camera coverage throughout jail facilities and body‑worn cameras for deputies. He said the department has an elections‑integrity unit and warned that attempted interference with local elections will be prosecuted.

District Attorney Ron Freitas outlined complementary prosecution and prevention programs. He described the STAR retail‑theft initiative, a public‑private partnership established by the DA's office and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce that the DA said uses grants, billboards and an app to deter shoplifting and coordinate prosecutions. Freitas said his office has added strategic staff positions to improve prosecution and victim services and called the FIRST team (Fentanyl Intervention Response and Safety Team) a central element of county efforts: "We have 0 tolerance for fentanyl and those who push this poison in San Joaquin County," he said.

Freitas also announced plans for a human‑trafficking law‑enforcement task force and a safe‑bar program, and he said major announcements on gun‑violence strategies are forthcoming. The DA recognized two local mothers who lost children to fentanyl and said victims' families have driven some program priorities.

What happens next: Officials framed the measures as part of an integrated public‑safety strategy. The sheriff and prosecutor did not present supporting crime‑data files at the address; reported percentage declines and case counts cited in remarks will require follow‑up for independent confirmation and for details on the time frames and geographies those numbers cover.