SAN DIEGO SHERIFF - Encinitas Sheriff Station Home

Captain Don Fowler

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services through contract for the cities of Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach. These services are rendered by deputy sheriffs and professional staff from the Encinitas Sheriff's Station.

Unincorporated areas of the County patrolled by deputies from the Encinitas Sheriff's Station include Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, the new Rancho Cielo development and the San Onofre-Camp Pendleton coastal area. The California Highway Patrol provides traffic control and enforcement in unincorporated areas. Nearly half of the population and number of dwelling units of this overall unincorporated area is included in the "Covenant" area of Rancho Santa Fe. They are governed by the Rancho Santa Fe Association which employs the Rancho Santa Fe Patrol security force, professionals who have all previously served with various law enforcement agencies. Other gated communities in the unincorporated area contract for private security patrol services.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department provides the cities of Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas with a wide range of municipal law enforcement services. This arrangement enables suburban communities to enjoy such sophisticated police services as helicopters, bomb/arson squad, SED team, canine units, modern crime lab facilities and one of the nation's most modern law enforcement radio communications networks.

The Encinitas Sheriff's Station includes a number of divisions that provide day-to-day law enforcement, including:

Patrol Division for investigation of crimes and apprehension of law violators
Traffic Division for vehicle code enforcement and traffic control
Investigations Unit with detectives who are responsible for working general crime cases against persons and property
COPPS unit ("Community Oriented Policing") deputies contracted by cities to provide high profile law enforcement
Crime Prevention Unit whose primary objective is public education for crime reduction.
Community Service Officers
Explorer Program

In addition, the station is home to the North County Transit District's Railroad Enforcement Unit. These deputies are responsible for providing high visibility patrol on the Coaster commuter trains and adjoining right of ways. They conduct investigations and enforce applicable laws specific to railroad operations.

To augment the various division activities, the department utilizes the services of trained and dedicated volunteer citizens. Law Enforcement Reserves volunteer their time to support Patrol Division operations and work numerous special events. The Senior Volunteer Patrol consists of local residents who provide valuable assistance both in the station's office and on the streets with high profile patrols and other duties.