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Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on In-Custody Death Investigation
Friday 09/25/2026
Santa Maria, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is providing an update to its September 15, 2026, notice of an in-custody death at the Northern Branch Jail. The Coroner’s Bureau has classified the death of James Edward Murphy, 68, as a homicide. Another incarcerated man, 46-year-old Peter James Anderson from Santa Barbara, has been booked on…
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Sheriff’s Detectives Continue Investigation into 1988 Homicide of Mitchell “Buster” Garcia
Wednesday 09/23/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation into the 1988 homicide of Mitchell “Buster” Garcia and are again asking for the public’s help as they pursue leads in the decades-old case. Garcia was 23 years old when his skeletal remains were discovered on February 10, 1988, in the Caliente…
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Coffee with a Cop Returns to Goleta for National Coffee with a Cop Day
Wednesday 09/23/2026
Goleta, Calif. – In recognition of National Coffee with a Cop Day, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to join deputies for Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the McDonald’s located at 6900 Camino Real Marketplace Dr. in Goleta. Coffee with a…
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Sheriff’s Detectives Make Arrest in 2025 Sexual Assault Investigation
Tuesday 09/22/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Persistent investigative work by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives has led to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the 2025 sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl near Casitas Pass Road and Via Real in Carpinteria. In March 2025, the victim reported that she was walking home when an unknown…
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Chief Deputy Kevin Huddle Sworn In as President of California Peace Officers’ Association
Monday 09/21/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Kevin Huddle has been sworn in as president of the California Peace Officers’ Association (CPOA), assuming a statewide leadership role with one of California’s longstanding law enforcement professional organizations. Chief Huddle was sworn in on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during a ceremony…
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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 68-year-old incarcerated man who was found unresponsive in his cell at the Northern Branch Jail.
Follow this link to read more:
Notice of In-Custody Death – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened. Click here to read more:
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened – Santa Barbara...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
SBSO Instagram Feed
Small but mighty. 🔬🧬🔎
This National Forensic Science Week, we’re celebrating the small team that does some seriously detailed work behind the scenes.
From late-night callouts and long hours processing evidence to meticulous work in the lab, our Forensics Team brings professionalism, expertise and dedication to every scene. And when you spend that many hours working side-by-side, coworkers have a way of becoming friends.
Thank you to our Forensics Team for the skill, patience and teamwork you bring to the Sheriff’s Office every day — and every night the phone rings. 💚
#NationalForensicScienceWeek #ForensicScience #Forensics #SBSheriff #Teamwork
Deputies joined members of the Armed Forces for the ceremonial coin toss at tonight’s Dos Pueblos High School football game. Thank you, Dos Pueblos, for honoring our military service members and local law enforcement! 🇺🇸🏈
National Police Woman Day — Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
Today, we honor the women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office — the women who wear the badge, serve our communities, lead from the front, and set the standard for professionalism in public safety.
We also honor the women behind the badge — the dispatchers, analysts, technicians, professional staff, and family members whose strength, skill, and support make our mission possible every single day.
Their impact is felt in every division: patrol, investigations, custody, coroner, search and rescue, forensics, behavioral sciences, community outreach, and the countless roles that keep this organization moving forward.
To every woman who serves, supports, and stands with the Sheriff’s Office — thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and your commitment to Santa Barbara County.
National Night Out was a great reminder of what makes Santa Barbara County special—strong partnerships, great conversations, and communities that come together. 🚔🌙
From bubbles and smiles in Santa Barbara to “magic hands” in Lompoc, we loved spending the evening connecting with residents, answering questions, and meeting so many families. 🫧 🪄✋🏼
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, said hello, and helped make National Night Out another memorable evening. We appreciate the opportunity to build relationships that make our communities stronger and safer every day.
Congratulations to Sergeant Kemp on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI)!
Over the course of this intensive program, Sgt. Kemp strengthened the leadership skills, decision-making, and professional development that help build stronger teams and better serve our community. We are proud to see our leaders continue investing in their growth and bringing that knowledge back to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Please join us in congratulating Sgt. Kemp on this well-earned achievement! 👏🎓💚💛
☕ Coffee, conversation, and community ☕
Join us this Saturday, July 11 from 9–11 a.m. at Gina’s Piece of Cake in Orcutt for Coffee with the Crew!
Stop by, grab a cup of coffee, and spend the morning with your Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputies and County Fire firefighters. No speeches, no agenda — just a chance to ask questions, share what’s on your mind, or simply say hello.
We hope to see you there! ☕🚒⭐️
When life gives you lemons… call for backup. 🍋🚓
Our deputies made a sweet stop at a neighborhood lemonade stand while out on patrol. Summer is in full swing, and we love seeing kids out creating memories, meeting neighbors, and sharing a little kindness one cup at a time.
📞 What really happens after you call the Sheriff’s Office ?
In this edition of Sheriff’s Mini Roundup, From Ring to Response, we take you behind the scenes to show how a call for service is created, prioritized, and dispatched to deputies. It’s a quick look at the people and technology working together to get help where it’s needed.
Watch now and see what happens between the ring of the phone and the arrival of a deputy.
