The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has been providing contract law enforcement services to the City of Imperial Beach since 1983. In the role of the city's "Police Department", the men and women of the Imperial Beach Station provide all aspects of law enforcement services including patrol, traffic, COPPS, crime prevention and investigations to approximately 27,500 residents. Additionally, the Imperial Beach Sheriff's Station provides law enforcement services, to over 22,000 residents who reside in the unincorporated communities of Bonita, Sunnyside, Chula Vista, Lincoln Acres, Proctor Valley, San Miguel Mountain, Otay Valley, and Otay Mesa.

The California Highway Patrol provides traffic control and enforcement in these unincorporated areas.

The Sheriff's Department also provides citizens with a wide variety of other regional services that includes; Aviation support (ASTREA), search and rescue reserves, specialized investigations (homicide, bomb/arson, narcotics, child/elder abuse, financial crimes, domestic violence), a tactical response team (SWAT), canine units, modern crime lab facilities and one of the nation's most modern law enforcement radio communications networks.

The Imperial Beach Sheriff's Station is comprised of the following:

• Patrol Division - First responders to law enforcement calls for service.
• Traffic Division - Enforcement and investigations pertaining to traffic in the city of Imperial Beach.
• COPPS Unit - Devoted to problem solving within the community.
• Investigations - Conducts follow-up investigations on criminal cases.
• Crime Prevention - Provides education for crime reduction & awareness.
• Explorer Program - Volunteer youth program.
• Reserve Program - Volunteer sworn peace officers.
• Senior Volunteer Patrol - Volunteer patrol and YANA services