CountyofSB.org 
Latest news
-
Student Reports Unloaded Firearm at Pine Grove School
Wednesday 03/25/2026
Orcutt, Calif. – On March 25, 2026, at approximately 1:08 p.m., deputies responded to Pine Grove School in Orcutt after receiving a report that a student had brought a firearm to campus. The incident was reported by fellow student who notified a staff member. School staff quickly took action and contacted law enforcement. Deputies responded…
-
Deputy Stabbed During 911 Follow-Up
Friday 03/20/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. – A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputy was injured during a violent encounter with an armed individual while responding to a welfare check early Friday morning in Goleta. On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 12:05 a.m., deputies responded to La Posada, located in the 4500-block of Hollister Avenue, after a man…
-
Traffic Stop Leads to Seizure of Over Two Pounds of Fentanyl and Arrest of Lompoc Woman
Tuesday 03/17/2026
Carpinteria, Calif. – A traffic stop conducted by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies in the early morning hours of March 15, 2026, resulted in the arrest of a Lompoc woman and the seizure of more than two pounds of fentanyl. At approximately 1:35 a.m., deputies from the Carpinteria substation observed a vehicle traveling northbound on…
-
Santa Barbara County Reports Significant Decline in Overdose Deaths
Monday 03/16/2026
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara County is seeing encouraging progress in the fight against drug overdoses, with new data showing a dramatic decline in overdose deaths over the past two years. From 2023 to 2024, overdose deaths in Santa Barbara County dropped from 158 to 96, a 40% decline, significantly outpacing the national decrease…
-
Community Invited to Coffee with the Isla Vista Community Resource Deputy
Tuesday 03/10/2026
Isla Vista, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to join Deputy Morrell, the new Community Resource Deputy assigned to Isla Vista, and Lieutenant Schmidt for coffee on Thursday, March 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Kozy Coffee – 6560 Pardall Rd. This informal event provides an opportunity…
SBSO X Feed
Student Reports Unloaded Firearm at Pine Grove School. Read more here:
Student Reports Unloaded Firearm at Pine Grove School – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
Deputies are investigating a package explosion at the Carpinteria UPS Store. Adjacent business have been evacuated. Please avoid the area. Updates here as they become available.
SBSO Instagram Feed
The work of the Bomb Squad is painstaking and methodical, requiring extreme patience, specialized training, and attention to detail. These deputies are called when situations are at their most dangerous, and their careful, deliberate approach is what keeps everyone safe.
Out in Cuyama, things look a little different. 🌄
Our Cuyama substation is staffed by resident deputies — meaning they don’t just patrol this community, they live here. They know the backroads, the ranches, the families, and the history.
In a rural area where backup can be miles away, relationships matter. And in Cuyama, those relationships run deep. 🤝
Small station. Big commitment.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to join Deputy Morrell, the new Community Resource Deputy assigned to Isla Vista, and Lieutenant Schmidt for coffee on Thursday, March 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Kozy Coffee – 6560 Pardall Rd.
This informal event provides an opportunity for residents, students, and local business owners to meet with Deputy Morrell and Lieutenant Schmidt, ask questions, share concerns, and learn more about public safety efforts in Isla Vista. Deputy Morrell and Lieutenant Schmidt will also answer questions related to Deltopia and the revised noise ordinance.
Working together to keep our community safe. 🤝🔒
Members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office recently partnered with the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County to provide facility safety training for their team. Trainings like this focus on practical strategies for recognizing potential threats, improving situational awareness, and strengthening emergency preparedness so staff feel confident responding to a variety of situations.
Strong community partnerships are a key part of public safety. By collaborating with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, we can help ensure the spaces where local youth learn, grow, and spend time after school remain safe and prepared. 💙
#SBSheriff #CommunityPartnerships #SafetyTraining #BoysAndGirlsClub
📚💚 Today, our team joined the students at @herewegrowelc Preschool to celebrate Read Across America with a special story time.
Moments like these are a great opportunity to connect with kids in a positive way and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Thank you to our friends at Here We Grow for welcoming us into your classroom! 📖✨
#ReadAcrossAmerica #CommunityConnection #SBSheriff #ReadingMatters
When tragedy strikes on our roadways, answers matter. ⚠️
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Response Team (SMART) responds to serious injury and fatal collisions with one goal: to determine exactly what happened. ⭐️🚓
These highly trained deputies use advanced investigative techniques including scene mapping, total station measurements, evidence documentation, vehicle inspections, and data retrieval from onboard vehicle systems. Every tire mark, debris field, point of rest, and impact angle is carefully analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events with precision and professionalism.
Their work is methodical, scientific, and often painstaking. It can take hours at the scene and weeks of follow-up analysis. But for victims, families, and the courts, accuracy matters.
Behind the traffic cones and flashing lights is a team committed to facts, accountability, and bringing clarity during some of the most difficult moments our community faces.
#SBSO #TrafficSafety #CrashInvestigation #PublicSafety
*UPDATE: class is full- stay tuned for the next offering 📺*🚔✨ Ever wondered what happens behind the badge?
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for our Community Academy—a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement in Santa Barbara County!
👮♂️ What you’ll experience:
📜 History of law enforcement
⚖️ Criminal law & patrol tactics
🗣️ De-escalation communication
🧪 Forensic evidence collection
This program is perfect for community members who want to learn more about the Sheriff’s Office—or anyone considering a future in law enforcement. Get an inside look at what it truly takes to serve and protect our communities.
📅 Class Schedule:
🗓️ Begins Monday, March 2, 2026
⏰ Mondays from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. through May 4, 2026
📍 Primarily at the Lompoc Substation, with some sessions in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria
🎉 Graduation BBQ/Luncheon: Saturday, May 9, 2026
⚠️ Space is limited and classes fill quickly!
📝 Apply by Monday, February 16, 2026
🔞 Must be 18 years or older
👉 Apply now at www.sbsheriff.org or email 📧 CommunityAcademy@sbsheriff.org with questions.
🚓 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting and educational experience!
Congratulations to Acting Lieutenant Neil Gowing (center) on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! 🎓👏 This achievement reflects months of intensive leadership training focused on ethical decision-making, effective supervision, accountability, and leading with integrity. We’re proud of Acting Lieutenant Gowing’s commitment to professional growth and thankful for the leadership he brings back to our agency and the community we serve. 💙🚓
