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CHP requests more officers as Lancaster area records high fatal‑collision counts
Summary
The CHP Analopee Valley commander told the commission his office is fully staffed now but has requested 15 additional officers to address traffic growth and fatal collisions; he cited 47 fatal collisions last year in the division and set a goal to reduce fatalities by 10%.
The area commander for the California Highway Patrol told the Lancaster Criminal Justice Commission that his Analopee Valley office is fully staffed at 51 sworn employees and seven professional staff but has filed a proposal requesting 15 more officers to respond to population and traffic growth.
The commander said the office investigated 47 fatal collisions in the division last year, 15 of which occurred in or near Lancaster, and that Analopee Valley handled one of the largest volumes of fatal collisions in the Southern Division after South LA. He set a near-term target to lower the division's fatal collisions from 47 to 42 — a 10% reduction.
On enforcement, the commander said speed, unbelted drivers and impairment continue to be the leading causes of collisions. He described operational steps already taken: a 114% increase over baseline in speeding citations, a 59% increase in seat-belt violations relative to goals, adjustments to night-shift staffing, and targeted DUI patrols. He said the resource-request timetable depends on statewide budgeting and academy throughput, with a likely review in the first quarter of next year.
Commissioners asked about construction-zone and freeway speed limits; the commander said construction-zone limits on SR-14 remain 55 mph and the non-construction freeway speed is 65 mph. The CHP offered to answer follow-up questions and did not request immediate commission action.
