In a series of vehicle stops executed by the San Jose Police Department, officers recently confiscated illegal firearms and narcotics in Downtown San Jose. The department's Field Training Officer (FTO) Program played a pivotal role in these discoveries in a pair of incidents that highlight ongoing concerns about unregistered weapons. San Jose PD reported that during a routine vehicle stop for code violations last Thursday, officers found a ghost gun, multiple new cellphones, and narcotics.

Expanding our SJPD FTO program to Downtown San Jose has provided crucial training for our Recruit Officers. On August 8, 2024, at approximately 6:15 PM, an FTO Officer and Recruit Officer made a vehicle stop in downtown San Jose for vehicle code violations. During a search of the… pic.twitter.com/Wwr7bEFkrK

— San Jose Police Dept (@SanJosePD) August 13, 2024

The suspect from last Thursday's encounter was taken into custody and now faces charges, landing behind the bars at Santa Clara County Main Jail. These training officers' vigilance had revealed yet another layer of the city's struggle with illegal arms, as ghost guns continue to evade standard regulation due to their lack of serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. Less than 24 hours later, another FTO officer and recruit found themselves in a tense confrontation when a subject refused to identify himself and resisted arrest during a vehicle stop. This encounter led to the discovery of a loaded handgun and marijuana presumed for sale.

San Jose PD's X update highlights the success of their FTO program, which not only trains recruits but plays an instrumental role in the field. "This is the third firearm seized by our FTO Recruit Officers in less than one week! Great job!" the department shared, acknowledging the string of successful interventions by these officers-in-training.