The Bakersfield Police Department and city crews, some on horseback, conducted a large-scale homeless encampment sweep in Bakersfield Wednesday morning.

24 encampments were cleared and 23 people were apprehended during the operation along the Kern Riverbed off Truxtun Avenue between Mohawk Street and Coffee Road.

Three people were placed into the Brundage Lane Navigation Center. 19 dogs were taken into custody.

The Bakersfield Police Department released a statement Wednesday saying they recognize the impact these quality-of-life issues have on the community and are committed to collaborative efforts to solve them.

The annual Point in Time census of Kern County’s homeless population took place in January, the results of which won’t be released until around April. Last year, the county saw a 37% increase in homelessness over 2023. 2,669 homeless individuals were counted in 2024.