The Criminal Investigations Division, under the management of Commander Joe Schmidt, is divided into three bureaus:  the Criminal Investigations Bureau, the Special Investigations Bureau, and the Judicial Services Bureau. A Sheriff’s Lieutenant manages each bureau. The Criminal Investigations Bureau is responsible for not only follow-up investigations, but initial investigations on a variety of crimes from Kidnapping, Homicide, Sexual Assault, and other serious crimes that not only occur in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, but also in our four contract cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta and Solvang. Additionally, we will investigate “Officer Involved Shootings” not only involving Sheriff’s Office personnel but also for many of the other Santa Barbara County law enforcement agencies.

The Criminal Investigations Bureau has personnel assigned strategically throughout the county to allow for a maximum resource response deployment to any area within the county as a result of any extensive criminal investigation. This task force response and approach has proven to be very successful in all types of cases encountered by Criminal Investigation Bureau personnel over the past couple of years and has become the norm rather than the exception.

We are very much appreciative to the community in their not only reporting various crimes, but to their willingness to assist us in any way that they can. These many extra eyes and ears has been one of the primary reasons responsible for our recent success, we continue to encourage people who want to help but who wish to stay anonymous, to feel free to utilize our “Anonymous Tip Line” .

To provide an anonymous tip, please call our Anonymous tip-line at 805 681-4171, or fill out and submit the form below.

Remember, your involvement is what makes our jobs so successful and results in those who wish to violate the law to be held accountable for their actions, resulting in safer communities for all of us.