Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department

The Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department, commonly abbreviated as the LSSD, is the principal county law enforcement agency serving Los Santos County, San Andreas. Its official name is the County of Los Santos Sheriff’s Department.

The LSSD is one of the largest local law enforcement agencies in the United States. It employs approximately 18,000 people, including 9,915 sworn deputies and 9,244 civilian employees.

The department provides police services to unincorporated communities and contracted municipalities, maintains security at the Superior Court of Los Santos County and manages the housing and transportation of inmates within the county jail system.

Responsibilities

The Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department has three principal responsibilities: providing municipal law enforcement services, maintaining courthouse security and operating the county detention system.

The department serves unincorporated areas of Los Santos County and provides contracted police services to 42 of the county’s 88 incorporated cities.

The LSSD also contracts with the Los Santos Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metrolink. It provides law enforcement services to community colleges, county parks, hospitals, golf courses, lakes, special-event venues and other county-owned facilities.

Specialised services provided by the department include crime laboratory analysis, homicide investigations and academy training. These resources are also made available to smaller law enforcement agencies throughout Los Santos County and San Andreas.

History

The Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department was established in 1850, shortly after the Mexican–American War and the annexation of San Andreas by the United States.

Early law enforcement responsibilities in the region were divided between the Los Santos Rangers and the Office of the Los Santos County Sheriff. The Rangers later developed into the Los Santos Police Department, while the sheriff continued to oversee law enforcement within the wider county.

During its early years, the office consisted primarily of an elected sheriff and temporary posses assembled when additional personnel were required. It developed into a permanent law enforcement institution during the early twentieth century.

Deputies formally adopted standardised uniforms in 1930, when the department also assumed responsibility for the administration of county jails.

During the 1930s, the LSSD assisted the Los Santos Police Department in operations targeting socialist organisations and union-led events during the period commonly known as the “Red Squad” era.

In 1947, the department appointed the first female deputy sheriff in the United States.

The department was involved in several periods of civil unrest during the following decades, including the 1961 Davis race riots and the 1992 Jim Queen riots.

Peter Collins administration

Peter “Pico” Collins served as Los Santos County Sheriff from 2009 until 2017.

His administration became associated with allegations of corruption, abuse within the county jail system and the presence of organised deputy groups within the department.

Following information provided by whistleblowers, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit concerning conditions and misconduct within the department. The Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently opened a public corruption investigation.

Collins and his undersheriff were later convicted of federal offences and sentenced to prison.

Following a period of federal oversight, Patrick Machado was elected sheriff in a special election. Soon after taking office, Machado ordered the reopening of the Twin Towers Los Santos County Jail in response to overcrowding across the county detention system.

Misconduct and controversies

The Davis Sheriff’s Station became the subject of several controversies during the leadership of Sheriff Joseph Cline and Captain Damian Suarez.

Allegations involving the station included excessive force, fraud and the operation of informal deputy groups. The City of Davis also accused department executives of misrepresenting the number of contract policing hours provided to the city.

Following civil unrest on July 30, 2022, Deputy Sarah Ostrowski publicly raised concerns about conditions within the station. Ostrowski, who had served there for more than five years, alleged that the station had developed a culture of institutional misconduct and violence.

The allegations led to increased public scrutiny and demonstrations outside the station.

Contract law enforcement

The LSSD provides municipal police services to several cities through contractual agreements. Under these arrangements, local governments pay the department to provide patrol officers, investigators and specialised units.

Davis

The Davis Police Department served the City of Davis and its surrounding areas from 1906 until May 14, 1998.

The department was disbanded by the Davis City Council following rising homicide rates, allegations of police brutality and controversies involving senior officials.

The former Davis Police Station was converted into a youth activity centre intended to reduce youth crime. The programme closed in early 2000 because of insufficient funding.

On September 17, 2000, the City of Davis entered into an agreement with the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department. The contract made the LSSD the principal municipal law enforcement agency serving Davis.

The city reportedly pays approximately $22 million annually for patrol services, specialised units and other law enforcement resources.

Paleto Bay and northern county

The Paleto Bay Sheriff’s Station opened in 1958 to provide law enforcement services across northern Los Santos County.

Together with its Sandy Shores substation, it covers a large geographical area that includes Paleto Bay, Mount Chiliad, Mount Gordo, Grapeseed, Raton Canyon, Sandy Shores, the Grand Senora Desert and Harmony.

Its wider service area also includes Tongva Hills, Banham Canyon, North Chumash, Pacific Bluffs, Vinewood Hills, Richman, Del Perro, Rockford Hills, Vespucci, Little Seoul, Downtown Los Santos and Vinewood.

Organisation

The LSSD is led by the elected Sheriff of Los Santos County. The sheriff is supported by an undersheriff, assistant sheriffs, division chiefs, captains and other senior officials.

The department is divided into patrol stations, detention facilities, court services and specialised investigative and operational divisions.

Facilities

The department operates sheriff’s stations, county jails, courthouses and specialised facilities throughout Los Santos County.

Its major locations include the Davis Sheriff’s Station, Paleto Bay Sheriff’s Station, Sandy Shores substation and the Twin Towers Los Santos County Jail.