Stay Safe Santa Barbara County
Emergency Call 9-1-1
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – Call (805) 683-2724
While keeping our community safe is the number one mission of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, we all need to be a part of this effort. You can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime or accident by learning how you and your family can be safe in your home, on the road or around the community.
Crime Prevention is the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk, and the initiation of action to remove it or reduce it. Utilizing an active approach of public awareness and preventive measures to reduce crime. Crime Prevention is cheaper, safer, and healthier for communities to prevent crime than to have to treat its victims, deal with its perpetrators, and lose civic health and productivity.
Please take a moment to read the different safety tips we have on a variety of important topics. Please also take time out to watch the Focus on Safety videos we have posted here. We hope all of these resources will better prepare you for what to look out for and how to best safeguard yourself, your loved ones and your belongings.
- 25 Ways to Keep Kids Safer
- Crime Prevention Tips for Residential
- Crime Prevention tips for Storefronts
- Elder Abuse
- Common Elderly Scams – SeniorLiving.org
- Emergency Preparedness
- Kids & Gangs
- Neighborhood Watch
- Personal Security
- Traffic Safety
- Faith Watch
- Operation Identification
- Terrorism Early Warning Signs
- Business Watch
Focus On Safety Videos
Avoid. Deny. Defend.— Surviving an Active Shooter Event
SBSO X Feed
This event will not be livestreamed by the Sheriff's Office, however we will share a recording on our YouTube channel as soon as possible. We will also share a press release recap following the press conference. We are unable to field question in advance.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has major developments in the missing person investigation for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. Members of the media are invited to a press conference:
⏰Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
📍 Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Headquarters
Press release and timeline here: https://www.sbsheriff.org/ashlee-buzzard-arrested-for-murder-of-daughter-melodee-following-discovery-of-remains-in-utah/
SBSO Instagram Feed
🔈Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center 🎅🏼👀
🔈Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center 🎅🏼👀 ...
🚨 Public Service Announcement: Text to 911 🚨
📍 Santa Barbara County, including UCSB properties
Call if you can. Text if you can’t.📱Dispatchers are available and ready to help 👩💻👨💻
A voice call is still the fastest and most effective ☎️
Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired ♿
It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk ⚠️
It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak 🏥
During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail 📶
📌 Tips for Using Text to 911:
Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly 📍
Use clear, plain language
Avoid emojis, slang, or abbreviations in your text
Send a one-on-one message. Group texts do not reach 911
Text to 911 is for emergencies only
📲 Text to 911- Help is just a message away.
🚨 Public Service Announcement: Text to 911 🚨
📍 Santa Barbara County, including UCSB properties
Call if you can. Text if you can’t.📱Dispatchers are available and ready to help 👩💻👨💻
A voice call is still the fastest and most effective ☎️
Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired ♿
It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk ⚠️
It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak 🏥
During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail 📶
📌 Tips for Using Text to 911:
Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly 📍
Use clear, plain language
Avoid emojis, slang, or abbreviations in your text
Send a one-on-one message. Group texts do not reach 911
Text to 911 is for emergencies only
📲 Text to 911- Help is just a message away.
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☕👮♂️ Join us for Coffee with a Cop in Orcutt!
The Sheriff`s Office is teaming up with Gina’s Piece of Cake for a relaxed, no-agenda meet-up on Saturday, December 20, from 9–11 a.m. Swing by, grab a free cup of drip coffee, and chat with the deputies who serve your community — including Community Resource Deputy Shawn Banks.
These casual conversations help us stay connected, hear what matters to you, and build stronger relationships one cup at a time.
📍 Gina’s Piece of Cake — 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt
🕘 Saturday, Dec. 20 | 9–11 a.m.
🍵 Free drip coffee for attendees!
We hope to see you there! #CoffeeWithACop #Orcutt #SBSheriff
☕👮♂️ Join us for Coffee with a Cop in Orcutt!
The Sheriff`s Office is teaming up with Gina’s Piece of Cake for a relaxed, no-agenda meet-up on Saturday, December 20, from 9–11 a.m. Swing by, grab a free cup of drip coffee, and chat with the deputies who serve your community — including Community Resource Deputy Shawn Banks.
These casual conversations help us stay connected, hear what matters to you, and build stronger relationships one cup at a time.
📍 Gina’s Piece of Cake — 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt
🕘 Saturday, Dec. 20 | 9–11 a.m.
🍵 Free drip coffee for attendees!
We hope to see you there! #CoffeeWithACop #Orcutt #SBSheriff
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🎓✨ Congratulations to Community Academy Class 25-2!
Over the past several weeks, this incredible group learned about everything from investigations and patrol operations to custody, communications, and the many specialty units that keep our county safe. 🚓
Programs like this help build a stronger, more connected community by opening doors, answering questions, and creating partnerships that last long after graduation. 🤝💛
We’re grateful for your time, curiosity, and commitment to understanding how your Sheriff’s Office serves you.
👏🎉 Great job, Class 25-2!
🎓✨ Congratulations to Community Academy Class 25-2!
Over the past several weeks, this incredible group learned about everything from investigations and patrol operations to custody, communications, and the many specialty units that keep our county safe. 🚓
Programs like this help build a stronger, more connected community by opening doors, answering questions, and creating partnerships that last long after graduation. 🤝💛
We’re grateful for your time, curiosity, and commitment to understanding how your Sheriff’s Office serves you.
👏🎉 Great job, Class 25-2!
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Today we celebrated four new deputies upon their graduation from the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy! 🎓💛 Big congratulations to Deputies Durnin, Pursifer, Weber, and Woolley — and an extra round of applause for Deputy Woolley, who received the Leadership Award! 👏⭐
Today we celebrated four new deputies upon their graduation from the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy! 🎓💛 Big congratulations to Deputies Durnin, Pursifer, Weber, and Woolley — and an extra round of applause for Deputy Woolley, who received the Leadership Award! 👏⭐ ...
🎓 Congratulations to Sergeant Jeff DeOrnellas on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! This milestone reflects his dedication to growth, service, and leading by example. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to the positive impact he’ll continue to make in our organization and community. 👏🚔
🎓 Congratulations to Sergeant Jeff DeOrnellas on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! This milestone reflects his dedication to growth, service, and leading by example. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to the positive impact he’ll continue to make in our organization and community. 👏🚔 ...
🎃👑 Three-peat CHAMPION! After taking home the pumpkin crown three years in a row, Jenn is officially retiring her paint brushes on top. 🏆🎨
This year’s winning entry? A perfectly painted Wednesday Addams—moody, iconic, and absolutely unbeatable. 🖤🕸️
Thank you, Jenn, for the creativity, the consistency, and the pumpkin legacy you leave behind. The patch won’t be the same without you… but we’ll try to carry on in spooky style. 🍂🧡
🎃👑 Three-peat CHAMPION! After taking home the pumpkin crown three years in a row, Jenn is officially retiring her paint brushes on top. 🏆🎨
This year’s winning entry? A perfectly painted Wednesday Addams—moody, iconic, and absolutely unbeatable. 🖤🕸️
Thank you, Jenn, for the creativity, the consistency, and the pumpkin legacy you leave behind. The patch won’t be the same without you… but we’ll try to carry on in spooky style. 🍂🧡
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🎃 It’s time to pick your favorite pumpkin! Our team got creative for this year’s pumpkin decorating contest — now it’s your turn to decide the winner!
👇 Vote by commenting the number or name of your favorite pumpkin below.
🕛 Voting closes at noon on Halloween (October 31), and we’ll announce the winner that afternoon!
#PumpkinContest #HalloweenFun #sbsheriff
🎃 It’s time to pick your favorite pumpkin! Our team got creative for this year’s pumpkin decorating contest — now it’s your turn to decide the winner!
👇 Vote by commenting the number or name of your favorite pumpkin below.
🕛 Voting closes at noon on Halloween (October 31), and we’ll announce the winner that afternoon!
#PumpkinContest #HalloweenFun #sbsheriff
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