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The Sheriff’s Office understands the importance of the special training and operations for persons with mental health and substance use disorders who are in crisis. 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 Sheriff’s Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) was formed to oversee cases involving mental illness and substance use, 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) course where law enforcement learn about various mental illnesses, de-escalation techniques and local resources. a 36 hour course has also been created specifically for our custody staff. To date, the BSU has trained over 1,300 local law enforcement in CIT including; custody deputies, patrol deputies; dispatchers, University of California Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Probation, District Attorneys office, Public Defenders office, and staff within Behavioral Wellness. We continue to 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 first 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 where CIT trained deputy and a mental health clinician or case worker from county Behavioral Wellness are partnered up and paired together to respond to mental health crises. 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, 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!
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Two Guadalupe Men Arrested in Separate Child Sexual Abuse Material Investigations. Read more here:
Sheriffs detectives served two separate search warrants in Guadalupe this morning on Esperanza Dr. and Tognazzini Ave. These were separate investigations - both for internet crimes against children. Federal agents assisted with the investigations and warrant service.
Buellton, you're invited! Join us for Coffee with a Cop at Zaca Coffee. Meet your local deputies and Buellton's new Chief of Police, Lieutenant Tom Green, for some friendly conversation over a cup of coffee. More here:
Sheriff's Office Invites Community to Coffee with a Cop in Buellton – Santa Barbara County Sherif...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
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☕ Coffee, conversation, and community! 🚔
Buellton, you`re invited! Join us for Coffee with a Cop at Zaca Coffee! Meet your local deputies and Buellton`s new Chief of Police, Lieutenant Tom Green, for some friendly conversation over a cup of coffee.
No speeches, no agendas — just an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and get to know the people who serve your community.
📅 Tuesday, November 17, 2026
🕙 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
📍 Zaca Coffee | 240 E. Highway 246, #109, Buellton
☕ FREE drip coffee, generously provided by Zaca Coffee!
Everyone is welcome, and no RSVP is needed. Stop by, say hello, and grab a cup with us!
A big thank-you to @zacacoffee for hosting! 💚
🎃👻 It’s time to pick your favorite pumpkin!
Our Sheriff’s Office team brought their creativity to this year’s pumpkin decorating contest, and now it’s YOUR turn to choose the winner! 🏆
🗳️ Cast your vote by commenting the number of your favorite pumpkin below!
⏰ Voting closes Friday, October 30, at midnight!
🎃 We’ll announce the winning pumpkin on Halloween! 🧡
Happy voting! 🎃
Today, we had the privilege of celebrating new beginnings and well-earned achievements at our Sheriff’s Office Welcome and Promotion Ceremony!
Sheriff Brown welcomed two new professional staff members and recognized eight team members who have earned promotions into new leadership roles.
Each promotion represents years of dedication, hard work, and a commitment to serving the people of Santa Barbara County. We’re proud to recognize these accomplishments and excited for the experience, leadership, and fresh perspectives each of these team members brings to their new roles.
Please join us in congratulating our newly promoted personnel and welcoming the newest members of the Sheriff’s Office family!
👏 Congratulations to all! 💛💚
☕👮 Coffee with a Cop is coming back to Goleta!
Join us for National Coffee with a Cop Day and spend the morning getting to know the deputies who serve the Goleta community. No speeches, no presentations—just coffee and conversation. Ask questions, share what’s on your mind, or simply stop by and say hello.
📅 Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 9–11 a.m.
📍 Marketplace McDonald’s
6900 Camino Real Marketplace Dr., Goleta
☕ Free McCafé coffee, courtesy of McDonald’s!
We hope to see you there!
#CoffeeWithACop #NationalCoffeeWithACopDay #Goleta #GoletaPolice #SBSheriff #CommunityPolicing
Great weekend at Los Alamos Old Days! 🤠
Our Sheriff’s Office team had a great time joining the parade and seeing so many families, friends and neighbors lining the streets of Los Alamos. From our historic patrol car to ATVs and the BearCat, we enjoyed sharing a little bit of Sheriff’s Office history—and some of the equipment our teams use today.
Thank you to the Los Alamos community for the waves, smiles and warm welcome. We’re always grateful for the opportunity to be part of the communities we serve. 💚⭐
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.
