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157 Drivers Cited in April for Violating Hands-Free Cell Phone Law
Monday 05/18/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif.: In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the Goleta Police Department and the Buellton Police Department Traffic Units issued 157 citations during the month of April to drivers who violated the state’s hands-free cell phone law. The effort was part of the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.…
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Friday 05/15/2026
Goleta, Calif. – The Goleta Police Department reminds travelers to always buckle up and secure children in the right car seats when visiting friends and family. This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign runs from May 18 to 31. During this time, the Goleta Police Department will have officers on patrol actively looking for drivers…
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Two Sheriff’s Office Leaders Honored with H. Thomas Guerry Awards for Superior Performance
Thursday 05/14/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Sheriff’s Lieutenant Christopher Gotschall and Sheriff’s Sergeant Sandy Frausto were recognized on Thursday, May 14, 2026, with H. Thomas Guerry Awards for Superior Performance by the Santa Barbara Citizens’ Council on Crime. The annual awards program honors exceptional members of…
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Wednesday 05/13/2026
Santa Ynez, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office recognized members of the agency and community during its annual Recognition Awards Program and Luncheon held on May 6, 2026. The ceremony honored exemplary service, lifesaving actions, professional excellence, and community partnership demonstrated throughout 2025. Hosted with support from the Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, the annual…
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Santa Barbara County Reports Among Lowest Firearm Death Rates in California
Wednesday 05/13/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Newly finalized mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that Santa Barbara County continues to rank among the counties with the lowest firearm death rates in California. According to finalized CDC mortality data for 2023 comparing California counties, Santa Barbara County recorded: The 12th lowest total…
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157 Drivers Cited in April for Violating Hands-Free Cell Phone Law. Read full press release here:
157 Drivers Cited in April for Violating Hands-Free Cell Phone Law – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Reminds Californians to Always Buckle Up
Seat Belt Safety Campaign Runs Through Memorial Day. Follow link for more information:
“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Reminds Californians to Always Buckle Up- Seat Belt Safety Campaign...
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
🏆 Congratulations to Sheriff’s Lieutenant Christopher Gotschall and Sheriff’s Sergeant Sandy Frausto on being honored tonight with the prestigious H. Thomas Guerry Awards for Superior Performance by the Santa Barbara Citizens’ Council on Crime. 👏
Lt. Gotschall was recognized for his exceptional leadership and lasting impact on recruitment, retention, and organizational development within the Sheriff’s Office Human Resources Bureau. His efforts helped modernize hiring processes during some of the agency’s most challenging staffing years. His distinguished career also includes multiple commendations for bravery and service, including two Sheriff’s Medals of Valor and the California State Peace Officers Medal of Valor. 🇺🇸
Sgt. Frausto was honored for his life-saving actions during a missing person investigation in the Santa Ynez Valley. Using his personal knowledge of the missing individual and the surrounding remote terrain, Sgt. Frausto located the man in critical condition after an apparent overdose. His quick thinking, decisive action, and coordination of emergency response efforts were instrumental in saving the man’s life. 🚔❤️
We are proud of both honorees and grateful for their dedication, professionalism, and service to our community. ⭐️
Last week, Sheriff’s Dispatchers were recognized with @sbcfire first-ever Unit Citation Award for leading the successful training and transition of all fire and AMR dispatch services to the Regional Fire Communications Center (RFCC).
Their leadership and coordination behind the scenes helped ensure a seamless shift for critical emergency services—work that makes a real difference in moments that matter most.
This week, we proudly recognize National Correctional Officers Week and honor the dedicated men and women who serve in our custody facilities with professionalism, compassion, patience, courage, and unwavering commitment. This week, members of our custody team were recognized by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors with a Resolution commemorating the week, and with a BBQ lunch celebration in appreciation of their service. 👏
As Sheriff Bill Brown shared in his message to personnel, corrections is a difficult profession that often requires staff to manage challenging and unpredictable situations with self-discipline and professionalism, while also helping provide incarcerated individuals the opportunity to change their lives for the better. He also recognized the many professionals who support our jail operations, including counselors, records and administrative staff, cooks, utility workers, and medical and mental health providers.
Thank you to all of our custody professionals for the remarkable care and service you provide to our community every day. 💙
#NationalCorrectionalOfficersWeek #SBSheriff
☕👮🏼 Coffee with a Cop is back in Goleta!
Join us on Tuesday, May 19 from 9–11 AM at McDonald’s in the Camino Real Marketplace for a relaxed, informal chance to connect with your local deputies.
No speeches. No agenda. Just conversation.
Whether you have questions, want to share concerns, or simply say hello, we’d love to see you there. Thanks to McDonald’s, free McCafé coffee will be provided for attendees.
📍 6900 Camino Real Marketplace Dr., Goleta
👥 Open to all community members
💚 Lighting Up Green for Mental Health Awareness Month 💚
This May, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is proud to join our community partners in the Light Up Green campaign, recognizing Mental Health Month and the importance of connection, compassion, and support.
You’ll see Sheriff’s Headquarters shining green as a reminder that no one has to face mental health challenges alone and that help is always within reach. Across the county, more than 150 locations are participating to show that together, we can create more good days for everyone.
We encourage our community to take part—check in on a loved one, start a conversation, and help reduce the stigma around mental health.
📞 If you or someone you know needs support, the Behavioral Wellness Access Line is available 24/7 at 888-868-1649.
#LightUpGreenSBC #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MoreGoodDaysTogether #SBSheriff
Custody Sergeant Jose Velasquez was recently honored with the Law and Order Individual Service Award from the Military Order of the World Wars—a distinction recognizing outstanding performance and exceptional service across law enforcement, fire and rescue, criminal justice, and public safety communities. 👏
Please join us in congratulating Custody Sergeant Velasquez on this well-earned recognition of his distinguished career in public service
A moment from last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting as our dedicated dispatchers were recognized with a resolution honoring National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. 📞💛
This week, we celebrate the voices behind the scenes—our dispatchers who provide calm, critical support in moments of crisis and serve as the vital link between our community and first responders.
Behind every call, every response, and every safe outcome… there’s a dispatcher making it happen.
Today, our deputies took a moment to say thank you to the voices on the other end of the line—our lifeline. 💛📞
#NationalPublicSafetyTelecommunicatorsWeek #ThankYouDispatch
