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In This Issue:
Message from the Sheriff ● New Partnership for Medical Care & Public Safety ● Recruitment Update ● Modernizing Jails ● Crime Stoppers Year-End Highlights ● Holiday Bowl Parade ● Upcoming Events
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I could not be prouder of the men and women of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office who work every day to keep our neighborhoods, jails, and courthouses safe. Over the past three years, we have made significant progress, filling vacancies, improving facilities, and reducing crime across the region. Today, San Diego County stands as the second safest large county in California and has the lowest property crime rate among large counties. That achievement reflects the dedication and professionalism of our deputies and staff, and it benefits every community we serve.
We are also moving forward on several major infrastructure projects designed to meet the needs of our growing region and ensure effective emergency response well into the future. These include improvements and replacements for the Ramona Station, Vista Jail, North Inland Station, and our Communications Center; facilities that are critical to public safety.
We are engaging the community in discussions about the future of our jail facilities, particularly the need to rebuild the Vista Jail. Our first Community Forum regarding the proposed Vista Detention and Re-entry Facility will take place in mid-February 2026 at Vista City Hall. All related information is publicly available on the Sheriff’s Office website, and we encourage community participation.
In addition to facilities, we are modernizing our technology. We will be transitioning to Mark43, a cloud-based Computer-Aided Dispatch system, to replace our outdated and unsupported dispatch platform. This change will improve reliability, security, and efficiency in emergency response. We will continue using our current records management system through 2026 while evaluating future options that best serve our region.
As these improvements move forward, I remain committed to transparency and accountability. I will continue to advocate for our deputies, professional staff, and the communities we serve while carefully evaluating changes that may impact our operations, effectiveness, or resources.
The more than 4,700 employees of the Sheriff’s Office share a collective mission: keeping San Diego County safe. I remain optimistic and energized by the progress we have made and the work still ahead. Together, we will continue strengthening this organization and enhancing the safety and well-being of every community we serve.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
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Kelly A. Martinez, Sheriff
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Paradise Valley Hospital in National City
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Enhancing In-Custody Medical Care with Paradise Valley Hospital
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The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce a new partnership with Paradise Valley Hospital in National City that improves medical care for individuals in custody while strengthening public safety.
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The demand for hospital-level care continues to rise. In 2024, more than 2,600 individuals required outside medical treatment, with nearly 2,700 needing care this year. Each visit requires deputies to transport and remain with patients, placing significant demands on staffing and resources.
Recognizing the need to maintain staffing resources at jails, the Sheriff’s Office and Paradise Valley Hospital collaborated to create a secure, dedicated medical treatment unit within the hospital to ensure the incarcerated population receives essential medical care while ensuring staffing resources are maintained at the detention facilities.
Following extensive planning and coordination with state and regulatory agencies, the unit became fully operational on December 1.
This specialized unit allows care to be delivered in one secure location, improves continuity of care, reduces transportation needs, and enables deputies to remain focused on community safety. The unit operates separately from public patient areas and does not impact access to hospital services. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to compassionate care, operational efficiency, and a safer San Diego County.
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Paradise Valley Hospital medical
treatment unit hospital room
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Paradise Valley Hospital's medical treatment unit reception area
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Recruitment Update: Strong Growth for SDSO
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While police recruiting nationwide increased only slightly in 2025 (+0.4%) according to published findings from the Police Executive Research Forum and remains below pre-2020 levels, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office experienced strong growth in both applications and hiring.
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Deputies patrolling Spring Valley
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Applications on the Rise
SDSO received 6,014 street-hire applications, an 8.4% increase over 2024.
- Lateral deputy applications increased nearly 14%
- Dispatcher applications rose almost 13%
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Smarter, Targeted Recruiting
The Recruiting Unit adopted a more strategic approach, attending 170 targeted events, down from 255 the previous year. Efforts focused on college and military career fairs, major public events, and partnerships with SDSU and the San Diego County Fair.
Innovative Outreach
New jail tours offered the public a hands-on look at detention careers and directly resulted in several hires. Pre-academy workouts were also expanded to better prepare candidates for academy expectations.
Through focused outreach and meaningful engagement, SDSO continues to outperform national recruiting trends.
These gains directly benefit our communities by improving response times, increasing neighborhood presence, and reducing overtime. Every outreach opportunity allows us to highlight the many career paths within the Sheriff’s Office and inspire future generations. There is no age too young to see how service, purpose, and a star can be part of your future.
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At National Night Out in Encinitas, a North Coastal deputy explains the Office’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) program
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ASTREA lands at the Palomar College's football field as part of the Junior Women’s Academy class on Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA), where a pilot discusses the program and answers their questions.
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Investing in Safer, More Modern Jails
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On December 9, Sheriff Kelly Martinez addressed the San Diego County Board of Supervisors regarding the urgent need to invest in the County’s seven adult detention facilities, many of which were built decades ago and no longer meet modern standards for safety, rehabilitation, and reentry.
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ADA compliant areas in Rock Mountain Detention Facility
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Over the past five years, the Sheriff’s Office has completed significant renovations, including security upgrades, fire safety improvements, ADA enhancements, and major system replacements at facilities such as George Bailey, Las Colinas, Rock Mountain, and South Bay. While this progress is meaningful, many facilities continue to operate with aging, end-of-life infrastructure.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting $63 million in County funding for the upcoming fiscal year to address critical safety and maintenance needs, including security systems, plumbing, and fire protection. Long-term planning and updated facility studies are also essential to ensure sustainable improvements.
Modern, well-maintained facilities protect staff, support rehabilitation, and contribute to a safer San Diego County for everyone.
Upcoming dates and next steps regarding the construction of a new North County Detention Facility, replacing Vista Detention Facility include:
February 17, 2026, community meeting in Vista to provide information about the need for a new detention facility and to hear community feedback. Details will be posted here: The Future of North County Detention and Reentry Facility | San Diego County Sheriff
In March, the County Board of Supervisors will approve a Capital Improvement Needs Assessment, which should include funding that is needed to continue planning for the new North County Detention Facility. Board agendas are posted here: Board of Supervisors Meeting Agendas
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Rock Mountain Detention Facility
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San Diego County Crime Stoppers:
Year-End Highlights
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San Diego County Crime Stoppers plays a vital role in keeping our communities safe by empowering residents to be part of the solution to crime—safely and anonymously. By providing a trusted platform for people to share tips about criminal activity, Crime Stoppers helps law enforcement solve cases that might otherwise remain unresolved. Tips can be submitted anonymously, removing fear of retaliation and encouraging community members to speak up when they have information that could prevent harm or bring justice to victims.
The impact of Crime Stoppers goes beyond solving individual crimes. Information provided through the program has helped recover stolen property, remove dangerous individuals from the streets, and disrupt ongoing criminal activity. Rewards are offered for any tip that leads to a felony arrest or involves campus related incidents for any case in San Diego, reinforcing the idea that public safety is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and the community.
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Crime Stoppers San Diego School presentation on Students Speaking Out program
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Most importantly, Crime Stoppers San Diego is a valued partnership that strengthens trust and collaboration with our community. When the community and law enforcement work together—each playing their part—everyone benefits. Crime Stoppers is a powerful reminder that even one anonymous tip can make a meaningful difference. The Crime Stoppers program is a collaborative effort between law enforcement, the public, and the media.
https://www.sdcrimestoppers.org/
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2025 Crimestoppers Impact Report
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4695 Total tips received for the year 2025.
"As a result of 4695 tips received, Crime Stoppers was able to solve the following 60 cases and make 59 arrests."
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Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Community at
the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office was proud to participate in the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, celebrating community spirit and local pride alongside residents and visitors. Sheriff’s Office personnel from across the county marched in the parade, engaging with the community and sharing smiles along the route. The Sheriff’s Office was especially excited to showcase the San Diego Sheriff’s Star balloon, a crowd favorite that symbolized our continued commitment to serving and connecting with the communities we protect.
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.jpg "Holiday bowlcollage with images of deputies giving pies to the elderly through the yana program with fall graphics like pies and orange and yellow leaves.")
