San Diego County Sheriff's Office

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department was formed in 1850. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office was a co-appellant in the Supreme Court of the United States and Ninth Circuit cases Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352 (1983), which held unconstitutional laws that allow law enforcement to demand that "loiterers" and "wanderers" provide identification; this continues to affect other offices nationwide. On September 10, 2024, the agency's official name was changed from San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. On March 6, 2025, KPBS reported findings by the ACLU that Sheriff Kelly Martinez violated the state sanctuary law SB54 by transferring to ICE a felon who was still protected by the act because his conviction was more than the required 15 years old. == County detention system ==

The Sheriff’s Office operates a system of seven detention facilities throughout San Diego. The San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) is located in Downtown San Diego, Both George Bailey Detention Facility (GBDF), The Rock Mountain Detention Facility (RMDF), and East Mesa Reentry Facility (EMRF) is located in Otay Mesa, San Diego in the southern enclave of San Diego, California. Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility (LCDRF) is located in Santee, California. South Bay Detention Facility (SBDF) is located in Chula Vista, California. The Vista Detention Facility (VDF) is located in Vista, California. Concerns and challenges The San Diego County Jail incarcerates about on an average day in 2022, there were 4,305 people in county jails and with such large numbers, the jail has faced numerous problems with its facilities. One of the main concerns within the San Diego County detention facilities is death of inmates, while in custody. The San Diego County jails system set a record high of 18 deaths in 2021. Then Sheriff Kelly Martinez took over in February 2022, and the jails matched its record total deaths again. In 2022, a report from the California State Auditor found that while individuals were in custody at county jails, San Diego County reported the second‑highest number of in‑custody deaths over the time frame of 2006-2021. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) created a semi-annual report, due to the concerns about the rate of deaths in San Diego. The Board noted that from 2006 through 2020, 185 people died in San Diego County’s jails. The report also found that inmates who died in the county's jails had been in custody for only a few days or several months, while others were waiting to be sentenced, set to be released or about to be transferred. In 2024, at least nine people died while in county jail. Another concern is that lack of accountability from those in charge. According to Justice Department data, 47 people died between 2021 and 2023, Sheriff Kelly Martinez and her predecessor, repeatedly refused requests from the CLERB to put her deputies through scanners before they start their shifts to reduce the flow of drugs into facilities. This request from the board came after two jail deputies pleaded guilty to drug-related charges last year, one for burglary of medication from a jail prescription medication drop-off box and the other for possession of cocaine on jail property. In December 2024 the County supervisors voted for stronger law enforcement review board powers. It has been noted that even having the sheriff to appear at CLERB meetings has been a struggle. Families of people who died in jail have expressed their frustration with the sheriff and the jails policy, especially Martinez refusal to scan jail staff for drugs. Thirteen inmates died from drug overdoses in San Diego jails between 2021 and 2023. ==Organization==

Office of the Sheriff • Public Affairs • Intergovernmental Legislative Affairs • Legal Affairs • Senior Executive Assistant • Division of Inspectional Services Service bureaus The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is organized into five service bureaus: Law Enforcement Services, Detention Facility Services, Court Services, Human Resource Services, and Management Services. Each bureau is managed by an Assistant Sheriff except the Management Services Bureau, which is headed by an Executive Director. Law Enforcement Services Bureau • Major Crimes Division • Central Operations Detail • Computer And Technology Crime High-tech Response Team (CATCH) • Elder Abuse • Financial Crimes • Homicide Detail • Family Protection Detail • Domestic Violence • Sex Offender Management Unit • Child Abuse Unit • Communications Division • Communications Center • Emergency Services Division • Arson/Explosives • ASTREA (air support unit) • Dive Unit (Search and Recovery) • Reserves • Search and Rescue • Special Enforcement Detail (SED)/SWAT • Special Investigations Division • Intelligence • Narcotics • Public Inspections • Street Gang/Narcotics Patrol Stations, Substations and Field Offices 4S Ranch Substation 10282 Rancho Bernardo Rd San Diego, CA 92127 Alpine Station 2751 Alpine Blvd Alpine, CA 91901 Borrego Springs Office 571 Palm Canyon Dr. Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Boulevard/Jacumba Substation 39919 Highway 94 Boulevard, CA 91905 Campo/Tecate Substation 378 Sheridan Rd Campo, CA 91906 North Coastal Station (formerly Encinitas Station) 175 N. El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 Fallbrook Substation 388 East Alvarado St Fallbrook, CA 92028 Imperial Beach Station 845 Imperial Beach Blvd Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Lakeside Substation 12365 Parkside St. Lakeside, CA 92040 Julian Substation 2907 Washington St, Bldg C Julian, CA 92036 Lemon Grove Substation 3240 Main St Lemon Grove, CA 91945 Pine Valley Substation 28914 Old Highway 80, #106 Pine Valley, CA 91962 Poway Station 13100 Bowron Rd Poway, CA 92064 Ramona Substation 1424 Montecito Rd Ramona, CA 92065 Rancho San Diego Station 11486 Campo Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91978 Ranchita Office 25704 San Felipe Rd, S-2 Warner Springs, CA 92086 San Marcos Station 182 Santar Pl San Marcos, CA 92069 Santee Station 8811 Cuyamaca St Santee, CA 92071 Valley Center Substation 28201 N. Lake Wohlford Rd Valley Center, CA 92082 Vista Station 325 S. Melrose, Ste 210 Vista, CA 92081 Court Services Bureau Detention Services Bureau • San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) • George Bailey Detention Facility (GBDF) • East Mesa Reentry Facility (EMRF) • Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility (LCDRF) • South Bay Detention Facility (SBDF) • Vista Detention Facility (VDF) • Rock Mountain Detention Facility (RMDF) Human Resource Services Bureau • Personnel Division • Background Investigations Unit • Career Path Assessment Unit • Recruiting Unit • Professional Standards Division • Internal Affairs Unit • Risk Management Unit • Training Division • Detentions and Court Services Academy • In-Service Training Unit • Regional Basic Academy • Weapons Training Unit (Range) Management Services Bureau • Data Services Division • Wireless Services Division • Contracts Division • Fiscal Services ==Vehicles==

, in 1991. in 2015 in 2015 Over the years, the agency's marked vehicles have sported unusual paint schemes. Originally in a traditional black and white, they transitioned to a pink-salmon color in the 1960s. From 1971 to 1991 the vehicles were painted kelly green-and-white which were the campaign colors of Sheriff John F. Duffy. When he retired the fleet was returned to the black-and-white color scheme and has remained so ever since. The office has also had a few all-white cars over the years, but these were for Traffic Enforcement and Volunteer Patrols only. Today, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office utilizes the Ford Explorer as their base model for their fleet. The SDSO also operates the Following Aircraft: Bell 205, Bell 407, and Bell 412. ==Weapons==

• Glock 17 – standard-issue handgun equipped with a Streamlight TLR-1. • Glock 22 .40 S&W – previously standard issue, being phased out. • Glock 23 .40 S&W – used by detectives and other investigators, some regular deputies carry it as well as an off-duty weapon. • Glock 27 .40 S&W – backup gun for deputies, used by some investigators as well as an off-duty weapon for some deputies. • Colt AR-15 Law Enforcement Carbine .223 Remington/5.56×45mm - LE6920 variant of the Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, issued to deputies as a patrol rifle. • Springfield Armory M-14 .308 Winchester – select fire battle rifle used for certain situations, is not the standard-issue rifle but the SDSO does have a few M-14s in the agency's inventory. • Remington 870 12-gauge — standard-issue pump action shotgun for deputies. • Aero Precision AR-10 .308 Winchester - used as a medium range high-power patrol rifle by qualified deputies. • Knights Armament SR-25 Rifle 7.62×51mm NATO - Designated marksman rifle used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies. • Accuracy International AW308 .308 Winchester - sniper rifle with a barrel used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies. • McMillan TAC-50 .50 BMG — long range sniper and anti-materiel rifle used by the Special Enforcement Detail for penetrating armor and disabling vehicles. • M4 carbine 5.56×45mm - select fire automatic assault rifle used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies. • Heckler & Koch HK33 5.56×45mm - select fire assault rifle used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies, the HK33 is an assault rifle derived from the MP5 with a longer barrel. The SDCSO has the HK53 variant, which has a shorter barrel. • Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm - submachine gun used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies with a barrel, the SDCSO also has the HK94 semi-automatic civilian-legal MP5 variant with a barrel for corrections officers. • M240 machine gun 7.62×51mm - belt-fed machine gun used by the Special Enforcement Detail and SWAT deputies to defend against an attack from criminals that have access to armored vehicles, automatic weapons & armor piercing incendiary rounds, and to defend against a large-scale terrorist attack. ==Sheriffs==

• Agoston Haraszthy, 1850–1851 • George F. Hooper, 1852–1853 • William Conroy, 1853–1854 • M. M. Sexton, 1854–1855 • Joseph Reiner, 1856–1857 • D. A. Hollister, 1857–1858 • George Lyons, 1858–1861 • James McCoy, 1862–1871 • Samuel W. Craigue, 1871–1874 • Nicholas Hunsaker, 1875–1876 • Joseph Coyne, 1876–1882 • Edward W. Bushyhead, 1883–1886 • Samuel A. McDowell, 1887–1890 • John H. Folks, 1891–1892 • Augustus Cravath, 1892 • Ben P. Hill, 1893–1894 • Frank S. Jennings, 1895–1902 • Thomas W. Brodnax, 1903–1906 • Fred M. Jennings, 1907–1914 • Ralph Conklin, 1915–1918 • James C. Byers, 1918–1929 • Edgar F. Cooper, 1929–1935 • Ernest W. Dort, 1936–1941 • Bert Strand, 1941–1962 • Elmer Jansen, 1962–1963 • Joseph C. O'Connor, 1963–1971 • John F. Duffy, 1971–1991 • Jim Roache, 1991–1995 • William B. Kolender, 1995-2009 • William D. Gore, 2009–2022 • Anthony Ray 2022-2023 (Interim Sheriff) • Kelly Martinez, 2023–present ==Deputies killed in line of duty==

• Andrew Kriss, May 25, 1864, gunfire • Will Ward, November 27, 1899, assault • Thomas A. Fay, May 17, 1919, gunfire • Herbert Sibert, July 13, 1949, Automobile crash • Donn G. Witt, September 25, 1983, illness • Kelly Ann Bazer, January 13, 1986, gunfire • Lonny Gene Brewer, December 5, 1987, gunfire • Theodore L. Beckmann Jr., February 8, 1989, vehicular assault • Patrick Steven Coyle, February 16, 1997, aircraft accident • Ken Collier, February 28, 2010, vehicle pursuit • Matt Gibbs, August 21, 2021, COVID-19 • Ramon (Al) Cazarez, April 10, 2023, COVID-19 ==Rank structure==