In This Issue:

Message from the Sheriff ● Update on planning for the New North County Detention and Reentry Facility ● ADL Recognizes Sheriff’s Spanish Academy for Advancing Inclusion and Community Trust ● Memorial Day Safety ● Celebrating Mother's Day ● Upcoming Events

Message from the Sheriff

May invites us to pause and reflect on the people, events, and values that shape our lives and strengthen our communities. It is a month dedicated to honoring those who serve, those who nurture, and those who work tirelessly to make a difference.

May is also Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” underscores the importance of prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility at every stage of life. The Sheriff’s Office is proud to support our aging community by promoting safety, independence, and peace of mind. Through proactive outreach and education, we encourage older adults and their families to stay informed, remain engaged, and take steps to protect their well-being. Our goal is to ensure that every senior in our county feels connected, supported, and empowered to live safely and confidently.

To further this mission, the Sheriff’s Office offers a variety of programs and resources designed specifically for older adults. The You Are Not Alone (YANA) program provides regular phone calls and in-person visits to homebound seniors, reducing isolation and ensuring their safety. The Take Me Home program supports individuals with cognitive conditions by giving law enforcement critical information should they become lost. We also provide firearm safety education, fraud and identity theft prevention resources, and guidance on recognizing and reporting elder abuse and grandparent scams. Additionally, the Blue Envelope Program helps individuals with medical or communication challenges safely interact with deputies during contacts. Together, these programs reflect our commitment to safeguarding the health, dignity, and security of our aging population.

Peace Officers Memorial Month is also in May. We honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Across the nation, we remember officers whose courage and commitment protected the communities they served. Here at home, we honor our 12 fallen deputies and two Sheriff’s K9S who gave their lives protecting San Diego County. Their dedication will never be forgotten, and we hold their families and colleagues close in our hearts.

This month also brings the celebration of Mother’s Day, a time recognized worldwide to honor mothers for their unwavering love, guidance, and the values they instill. Mothers shape our character, influence our choices, and leave a lasting impact on our communities. To all the mothers in our county, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation.

Finally, I would like to share that I had the privilege of traveling to Sacramento for the Legislative Days Summit, a week dedicated to policy, advocacy, and collaboration among Tribal leaders and policymakers. A highlight of the summit was signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside California legislators and Tribal leaders. This collaboration strengthens cooperation among local, state, federal, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), a critical step toward justice, prevention, and community safety.

As we move through May, let us honor those who serve, cherish our families, and continue building partnerships that make our communities safer and stronger.

Sincerely,

Kelly A. Martinez, Sheriff

Exterior view of the Vista Detention Facility, a large modern concrete building with multiple connected sections and security fencing. The entrance gate is centered in the foreground, surrounded by landscaped flower beds and greenery. Hills and open land are visible in the background under early evening light.

Update on Planning for the New North County Detention and Re‑entry Facility

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing work with County partners on the long‑term plan to replace the Vista Detention Facility with a modern North County Detention and Re‑entry Facility. This major capital project is designed to meet current and future needs for a safe, secure, and re-entry focused detention facility in San Diego County.

In March 2026, the Board of Supervisors approved the Capital Improvement Needs Assessment (CINA) for Fiscal Years 2026‑27 through 2030‑31, which includes the replacement of the Vista Detention Facility. CINA outlines a phased project currently estimated at $949 million for full buildout. While this estimate reflects long‑term needs, the final scope will ultimately depend on available funding, bond capacity, and future revenue to support repayment of financing.

A panel seated at a table during an indoor event. A uniformed individual speaks into a microphone, with water bottles and notes on the table. Other panelists sit beside the speaker, and audience members are visible in the foreground. A presentation screen with text is displayed behind the panel.

Panelists speak at a community event, with SDSO staff during a discussion.

Audience seated in a conference room facing a speaker at a podium. Behind the speaker are U.S. and California flags, and a large projected slide titled “Shaping the Future of Vista Detention Facility.” A long table with a blue tablecloth and bottled water is positioned at the front of the room. Bright ceiling lights illuminate the space.

Community members attend a presentation about the future of the Vista Detention Facility.

Project Phasing and Facility Features

Phase 1, the largest component of the project, includes designing and constructing a full‑service detention and re‑entry facility with:

912 beds
Intake and release operations
Comprehensive medical and mental health services
Dedicated spaces for re‑entry, rehabilitation, and supportive programming

Phase 2 will add 436 additional beds, expanded medical and mental health areas, and associated support spaces. Funding for Phase 2 will be identified and requested approximately seven to ten years into the program.

Funding and Planning Efforts Underway

A multidisciplinary group of County and Sheriff’s Office staff meets monthly to review fiscal strategies for the new facility. The County continues to evaluate a variety of funding mechanisms.

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Progress

The Environmental Impact Report is now the focus of planning efforts. The report will evaluate potential impacts on:

Biological resources
Cultural resources
Hazardous materials
Noise
Tribal cultural resources

The project remains on schedule, with public review of the Environmental Impact Report is anticipated later this year. Final consideration of the Environmental Impact Report by the Board of Supervisors is expected in 2027.

Looking Ahead

Once the environmental review is complete, the County plans to begin the procurement process for a design‑build team in 2027. Architectural design will follow and construction of the new facility is projected to begin in 2029.

Community Engagement

The Sheriff will host her second community meeting on the Vista Detention Facility replacement project on June 26 in Encinitas. This meeting will offer residents an opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback on the future of detention and re‑entry services in North County.

An indoor community meeting is underway with rows of seated attendees facing a speaker at a front table. The speaker, wearing a San Diego County Sheriff’s Office uniform, stands at a podium while addressing the audience. Behind the speaker is a large screen displaying a presentation titled ‘Shaping the Future of Vista Detention Facility.’ The room is well-lit with overhead lights, and several audience members appear to be engaging by raising hands or looking toward the front.

Assistant Sheriff Dustin Lopez talking to a person wearing a grey hoody with a table with a blue table cloth in the front discussing the Vista detention facility jail.

Two individuals are standing and talking near an informational display table. One person is wearing a white shirt with a tie and holding papers, while another person stands facing them holding a water bottle. Behind them is a large sign that reads ‘We want to hear from you!’ with instructions for sharing feedback and a QR code. A second display board with a legend and a seal is placed on a table to the right, along with a water bottle. Chairs and stacked furniture are visible in the background.

ADL Recognizes Sheriff’s Spanish Academy for Advancing Inclusion and Community Trust

The Sheriff’s Academia del Alguacil (Spanish Academy) has been honored with the Helene & Joseph Sherwood Family Prize for Combatting Hate, Law Enforcement Award by the Anti‑Defamation League (ADL). This recognition highlights the Office’s ongoing commitment to strengthening inclusion, trust, and public safety within some of San Diego County’s most underserved Spanish‑speaking communities, including migrant families.

A group of uniformed Sheriff’s Department personnel and other attendees stand in a row holding award plaques in front of an ADL-branded backdrop decorated with balloon columns. The photo is taken outdoors in front of a modern building with large windows and stone pillars.

Sheriff Kelly Martinez accepts the ADL’s Sherwood Prize in Los Angeles, honoring the Sheriff’s Spanish Academy for advancing inclusion and combating hate.

Several uniformed personnel stand in a row next to an individual holding a certificate. The group is positioned in front of a backdrop with decorative balloons overhead. An audience member is visible in the foreground.

Spanish Academy Leadership Team

Launched in Spring 2021, Academia del Alguacil is the first Spanish‑language sheriff’s academy of its kind in the nation. Developed in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program, the six‑week academy was designed to eliminate language and cultural barriers that often prevent families from feeling safe engaging with law enforcement. Delivered entirely in Spanish, the program provides critical information on immigration laws, domestic violence, drug abuse, human trafficking, hate crimes, gangs, and traffic safety.

More than 500 community members from nine regions have graduated from the academy across in‑person and virtual formats. Every group starts with some initial hesitation, which quickly fades, by the second week, participants and deputies begin forming genuine connections. The program concludes with a family‑style graduation ceremony and potluck, where new relationships are celebrated and strengthened.

Graduates frequently become trusted messengers within their communities, sharing accurate information and encouraging others to engage with law enforcement resources. Deputies who participate also gain deeper insight into the experiences, needs, and challenges of Spanish‑speaking residents, creating valuable two‑way learning.

As the Sheriff’s Office prepares to celebrate the 10th Spanish Academy currently underway in Valley Center with record‑breaking attendance of more than 100 participants, the program continues to serve as a model for community‑oriented policing grounded in equity, language access, and human connection.

Edith Sanchez, the Community Inclusion Director, stands at the front of a room and presents a Spanish Academy certificate to a participant. The background features a wall filled with framed historical photographs, and audience members are seated in the foreground.

Captain Navarro is giving a speech at the Spanish Academy graduation.

Several individuals stand in a line outdoors holding certificates. A Sheriff’s Department vehicle is parked behind them, displaying a badge emblem on the door. Trees and scattered yellow petals are visible around the paved area.

Spring Valley Spanish Academy graduation ceremony

An individual in a San Diego County Sheriff uniform is shaking hands with another individual across a podium during a formal indoor event. A flag stands in the background, along with a banner and stage lighting. Another person stands slightly behind them, observing the interaction.

Assistant Sheriff Lopez presenting a certificate to Spanish Academy participant

Memorial Day Safety - DUI, Travel

Memorial Day weekend Safety Reminder

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is urging everyone to buckle up and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the busy Memorial Day Weekend.

From Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day), Sheriff’s Deputies will increase patrols throughout the county to identify and stop impaired drivers. Driving under the influence is dangerous and illegal. If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested.

On Saturday, May 9, the Vista Sheriff’s Station will also conduct a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the City of Vista.

Driving under the influence includes alcohol, prescription medications, over‑the‑counter drugs, and marijuana. If you plan to drink during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, arrange for a designated driver, ride‑sharing service or taxi before you head out.

Funding for the impaired driving patrols/DUI checkpoint is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

A nighttime roadside safety checkpoint with traffic cones, a reflective road barrier, and a vehicle stopped while a uniformed traffic officer speaks to the driver. Trees and parked vehicles line the background, and the area is lit by street lighting.

Memorial Day Weekend Reminder: Drive sober and stay alert. Law enforcement is conducting increased safety checkpoints to keep our roads safe.

A close-up nighttime scene showing a handheld alcohol-screening device held by a uniformed deputy near an individual who is standing beside others. A red canopy with partially visible text is overhead, and the background includes blurred lights and figures, suggesting an active enforcement area. Let me know if you’d like a shorter or more formal version!

Keeping our community safe starts with awareness. At our Know Your Limit event, deputies educated attendees on how to monitor their alcohol consumption.

A nighttime roadside safety stop where a uniformed deputy is holding a handheld device while speaking with an individual standing near a vehicle. A red traffic signal and palm trees are visible in the background, and the lighting suggests an active enforcement scene in a downtown area.

At the Know Your Limit event, deputies offered voluntary breathalyzer tests to demonstrate how quickly the legal BAC limit can be reached. Knowledge saves lives.

Safe Memorial Day Travel

With millions of people hitting the road across the nation, the Sheriff’s Office is encouraging everyone to plan ahead and travel safely. The Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year and taking simple steps can help prevent accidents and delays.

Safe travel tips include:

Allow extra time for heavy traffic and holiday congestion.
Avoid distractions—keep your phone out of reach unless using hands‑free features.
Ensure your vehicle is in good working condition (tires, brakes, lights).
Stay alert for pedestrians, cyclists, and increased activity near beaches and parks.
Never drive, if you are tired fatigue impairs reaction time and judgment.
If you are traveling long distances, take regular breaks and switch drivers when possible.
Planning ahead protects you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road.

Close-up of a folded American flag showing red and white stripes and white stars on a dark blue field. Centered over the flag is white text that reads 'MEMORIAL DAY' with a row of five white stars above it and horizontal lines above and below the text.

A white toy airplane sits on top of a detailed road map marked with highways and terrain lines. Several vintage-style travel photos, including an image of a building and a red bus, are scattered around the map.

A Mother’s Day collage with a blue textured background featuring several cut‑out photo frames shaped like circles and hearts. The center contains a heart with the text “Happy Mother’s Day.” The surrounding photos show uniformed sheriff’s personnel interacting with children and family members in outdoor and community settings, including standing beside a sheriff’s vehicle, giving hugs, holding children, and participating in casual moments at a park. Floral and patterned scrapbook-style accents decorate the layout.

Celebrating Mother’s Day in San Diego County

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the care, dedication, and strength of mothers throughout San Diego County. The Sheriff’s Office extends appreciation to all mothers, guardians, and caregivers who support their families and communities, including those who serve within our organization. As the holiday approaches, we encourage everyone to take a moment to show gratitude to the important mother‑figures in their lives. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and meaningful Mother’s Day.