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The Sheriffโs Office understands the importance of the special training and operations for persons with mental health and substance use disorders who are in crisis.ย Over the last 40 years, changes in mental health laws, closing of mental health facilities and law enforcement policies have brought law enforcement officers into ever increasing contacts with people who suffer from mental illness and substance use disorders. Local Santa Barbara County Law Enforcement officials have estimated that anywhere from 15- 60% of all calls for service involve some type of contact with a mentally ill subject.
The Sheriffโs Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) was formed to oversee cases involving mental illness and substance use,ย develop a Crisis Intervention Team and to build community partnerships to help adopt restorative justice principles to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and into treatment.
Our BSU developed an 8-hour and 40-hour P.O.S.T. certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)ย course where law enforcement learn about various mental illnesses, de-escalation techniques and local resources.ย a 36 hour course has alsoย been created specifically for our custody staff.ย To date, the BSU has trained overย 1,300 local law enforcement in CIT including; custody deputies, patrol deputies; ย dispatchers, University of California Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Probation, District Attorneys office, Public Defenders office, andย staff within Behavioral Wellness.ย ย We continue toย offer the training to all local law enforcement agencies within Santa Barbara County and are proud to work with our partners at the National Alliance of Mental Illness and the Department of Behavioral Wellness.
The BSU is proud to have launched Santa Barbara Counties firstย county Co-Response program with our partners at Behavioral Wellness. We have three such teams operating in all parts of the county. Co-response is whereย CIT trained deputy and a mental health clinician or case worker from county Behavioral Wellness are partnered up and ย paired together to respond to mental health crises.ย Our three teams are currently grant funded through the end of 2022. If you would like to learn more about the BSU initiatives and programming you may contact Dr. Cherylynn Lee at (805) 681 4231,ย crl5034@sbsheriff.org (opens in a new tab)
If you or your loved one are expecting a mental health crisis and need to call 911
USE THIS CHECKLIST!
ย
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Two Suspects Arrested in Scam Targeting Elderly Resident. Read more here:
Two Suspects Arrested in Scam Targeting Elderly Resident โ Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriffโs Office ...
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Oxnard Man Arrested for Sex Crimes Against Juvenile- Detectives Warn of Social Media Dangers. Read more here:
Oxnard Man Arrested for Sex Crimes Against Juvenile- Detectives Warn of Social Media Dangers โ...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriffโs Office ...
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When tragedy strikes on our roadways, answers matter. โ ๏ธ
The Santa Barbara County Sheriffโs Office Major Accident Response Team (SMART) responds to serious injury and fatal collisions with one goal: to determine exactly what happened. โญ๏ธ๐
These highly trained deputies use advanced investigative techniques including scene mapping, total station measurements, evidence documentation, vehicle inspections, and data retrieval from onboard vehicle systems. Every tire mark, debris field, point of rest, and impact angle is carefully analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events with precision and professionalism.
Their work is methodical, scientific, and often painstaking. It can take hours at the scene and weeks of follow-up analysis. But for victims, families, and the courts, accuracy matters.
Behind the traffic cones and flashing lights is a team committed to facts, accountability, and bringing clarity during some of the most difficult moments our community faces.
#SBSO #TrafficSafety #CrashInvestigation #PublicSafety
*UPDATE: class is full- stay tuned for the next offering ๐บ*๐โจ Ever wondered what happens behind the badge?
The Santa Barbara County Sheriffโs Office is now accepting applications for our Community Academyโa hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement in Santa Barbara County!
๐ฎโโ๏ธ What youโll experience:
๐ History of law enforcement
โ๏ธ Criminal law & patrol tactics
๐ฃ๏ธ De-escalation communication
๐งช Forensic evidence collection
This program is perfect for community members who want to learn more about the Sheriffโs Officeโor anyone considering a future in law enforcement. Get an inside look at what it truly takes to serve and protect our communities.
๐
Class Schedule:
๐๏ธ Begins Monday, March 2, 2026
โฐ Mondays from 6:00 โ 8:30 p.m. through May 4, 2026
๐ Primarily at the Lompoc Substation, with some sessions in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria
๐ Graduation BBQ/Luncheon: Saturday, May 9, 2026
โ ๏ธ Space is limited and classes fill quickly!
๐ Apply by Monday, February 16, 2026
๐ Must be 18 years or older
๐ Apply now at www.sbsheriff.org or email ๐ง CommunityAcademy@sbsheriff.org with questions.
๐ Donโt miss your chance to be part of this exciting and educational experience!
Congratulations to Acting Lieutenant Neil Gowing (center) on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! ๐๐ This achievement reflects months of intensive leadership training focused on ethical decision-making, effective supervision, accountability, and leading with integrity. Weโre proud of Acting Lieutenant Gowingโs commitment to professional growth and thankful for the leadership he brings back to our agency and the community we serve. ๐๐
Congratulations to the 12 members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriffโs Office who were officially promoted today ๐โญ
This ceremony recognized dedicated professionals from across the organization, including three key additions to the executive leadership team:
Undersheriff Brad Welch
Chief Deputy Kevin Huddle
Custody Chief Deputy Ryan Sullivan
Each brings decades of experience spanning patrol, investigations, custody operations, and executive commandโstrengthening the leadership of our agency at every level.
Also honored were newly promoted commanders, lieutenants, sergeants, and professional staff, whose leadership and commitment support our mission every day.
โThese promotions reflect the caliber of our people and the rigor of the process,โ said Sheriff Bill Brown. โThose who advance have earned the confidence of this organization.โ
As they step into their new roles, these leaders are charged with upholding the values behind the word SHERIFF:
Service โข Honor โข Ethics โข Respect โข Integrity โข Fairness โข Faithfulness โญ
๐Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center ๐ ๐ผ๐
๐จ Public Service Announcement: Text to 911 ๐จ
๐ Santa Barbara County, including UCSB properties
Call if you can. Text if you canโt.๐ฑDispatchers are available and ready to help ๐ฉโ๐ป๐จโ๐ป
A voice call is still the fastest and most effective โ๏ธ
Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired โฟ
It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk โ ๏ธ
It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak ๐ฅ
During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail ๐ถ
๐ Tips for Using Text to 911:
Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly ๐
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
๐ฒ Text to 911- Help is just a message away.
โ๐ฎโโ๏ธ Join us for Coffee with a Cop in Orcutt!
The Sheriff`s Office is teaming up with Ginaโs Piece of Cake for a relaxed, no-agenda meet-up on Saturday, December 20, from 9โ11 a.m. Swing by, grab a free cup of drip coffee, and chat with the deputies who serve your community โ 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.
๐ Ginaโs Piece of Cake โ 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt
๐ Saturday, Dec. 20 | 9โ11 a.m.
๐ต Free drip coffee for attendees!
We hope to see you there! #CoffeeWithACop #Orcutt #SBSheriff
๐โจ 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. ๐
Programs like this help build a stronger, more connected community by opening doors, answering questions, and creating partnerships that last long after graduation. ๐ค๐
Weโre grateful for your time, curiosity, and commitment to understanding how your Sheriffโs Office serves you.
๐๐ Great job, Class 25-2!
