Orange County Sheriff's Department

It's time for another Station 18 By The Second! This time, we're riding along with Deputy Gish, one of our School Resource Officers (SROs) in San Clemente! SROs like Deputy Gish are responsible for maintaining a safe and secure school environment throughout their city, and usually are assigned to multiple campuses. They provide support to school administrators, while being a visible presence to prevent crime. With his experience and training, Deputy Gish helps create a safe place for learning among students and staff on campus. Looking for a career that allows you to make an impact? Consider a job with OC Sheriff: https://bit.ly/3wN74t8

Happy STEM/ STEAM Day! Today, we’re celebrating the role that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics plays within our Orange County Crime Lab at the DNA Bureau! ???? The DNA Bureau plays a vital role in solving crimes by examining and analyzing DNA from biological evidence. With state-of-the-art tools like robotic processing, DNA typing, and probabilistic genotyping, the team provides high-quality, comprehensive results that make a difference. Curious about a STEM career? Explore exciting opportunities with us and be part of a dynamic team using science to make an impact. Visit OCSheriff.gov/join to learn more.

Message from Sheriff Don Barnes: "Today, I am deeply saddened to share the loss of our former Sheriff, Brad Gates, at the age of 85. Sheriff Gates honorably served Orange County from 1975-1999 ?-- an era of great progress for the Sheriff’s Department.? While our department family mourns the loss of a truly great man, we also celebrate the legacy he leaves behind. We honor him as a leader who inspired excellence and stood tall in defense of the public he was sworn to serve. And we fondly remember his love for a well-fitting cowboy hat and a long horseback ride. He was a man of great strength and fortitude, a loving husband, a dedicated father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. Please join me in keeping the Gates family in our prayers during this difficult?time.?Please read my full statement here:?https://lnkd.in/g4bJZ5UQ"

Our department’s Annual Report is here! We created this report for our community to learn more about our efforts to engage and support those we serve while highlighting the achievements, effectiveness, and efficiency in delivering our services. To access the annual report click: https://bit.ly/3Yf36Dm

October is a significant month for us at OC Sheriff as we honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the memory of our former Sheriff, Sandra Hutchens, who fought a long battle with breast cancer and passed away in 2021. Earlier this month, Sheriff Barnes and Six Points for Kids were able to present a check for $17,600 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, raised through our pink patch sales. It’s an honor to give back to a cause that’s close to our hearts and contribute to the fight against breast cancer.

Over the last year, the OC Sheriff Special Victims Detail has conducted four operations and arrested 10 suspects who attempted to use social media and other apps to contact and victimize children and teens. The suspects use popular social media platforms and messaging apps to groom their victims and convince them to meet for sexual acts. Although our investigators work diligently to find and catch these sexual predators, we need the community’s help to prevent these crimes from happening. Here is how you can help safeguard your children: ?? Talk to them early and often about internet and social media safety ?? Make sure their accounts are set to private ?? Remind them to never accept friend requests or chat with someone they don’t know ?? Frequently monitor their online activities and have ongoing conversations about safety ?? Consider installing a monitoring app on your devices to help identify concerning behavior and block adult content

Ever wondered who’s keeping your bus ride safe? Meet our dedicated Transit Police Services (TPS) team that ensures safety and security for our partners at Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)! ?? Fixed Route Team: Specializes in securing OCTA buses and supporting local law enforcement at transportation hubs and park & ride facilities. They’re your on-the-go security! ?? Right of Way Team: Tasked with protecting our 60 miles of railway, this team mitigates trespassing and security threats to keep our railways safe and sound. ?? Explosives Detection K9 Team: Our skilled K9 units are on the front lines, searching buses, trains, and special events for explosive devices to ensure a secure environment for all. ?? Community-Oriented Policing Team: Focusing on enhancing community life, this team builds strong relationships with riders and community members to prevent and reduce crime and disorder. With over 1 million passengers each week across 58 bus routes in 34 cities, your safety is our priority.

To wrap up #ForensicScienceWeek, we’d like to introduce you to our DNA Bureau! The OCCL’s DNA Bureau specializes in analyzing biological evidence from crime scenes or sexual assault test kits. With cutting-edge technology like robotic processing and probabilistic genotyping, they are able to deliver precise results. The team is also trained in DNA evidence collection, adheres to rigorous FBI and ISO standards, and undergoes regular audits. Their work plays a key role in criminal investigations, using local, state, and national databases (CODIS) to identify suspects. Serving all local law enforcement and fire agencies, the DNA Bureau is at the forfront of crime solving in Orange County. Thanks for following our social media takeover this week. #HappyForensicScienceWeek!

Today we're exploring the Criminalistics Bureau which includes: Firearms/Toolmarks (FATM): Examining firearms and ballistic evidence to link bullets and cartridge cases to crime scenes. Plus, maintaining the OCBULL3T database for tracking firearm usage in Orange County crimes. Clandestine Laboratory: Handling hazardous clandestine labs, documenting scenes, and analyzing samples for evidence of illegal manufacturing. Seized Drugs: Identifying seized drugs and supporting law enforcement with clandestine lab investigations. CSI - Scientists: Are a specialized team of forensic scientists that respond to major crime scenes which are primarily homicides, officer-involved shootings, and in-custody deaths. The unit provides crime scene documentation, processing, and evidence collection services for major crime scenes for law enforcement agencies. Trace Evidence: Analyzing fire debris and trace evidence from crime scenes to uncover arson and other crimes. Tomorrow we will close out #ForensicScienceWeek by visiting our DNA Bureau.

Can you believe we are already halfway through #ForensicScienceWeek? Today, we are with the Identification Bureau which includes the photo lab, Latent Processing Section, Impression Evidence, Latent Print Comparison, and CSI Specialists. Today, let’s explore the Identification Bureau—a key player in forensic investigations. They serve all law enforcement agencies in the county, providing critical support across various sections: The Photo Lab Handles digital and traditional photography and manages a system for quick access to images, from evidence to portraits. Specialists in the latent processing section examine evidence to uncover fingerprint details, crucial for solving cases from burglaries to homicides. The Impression evidence examiners Analyze shoe prints and tire tracks, linking suspects to crime scenes with a unique footwear database. The OCCL has the only impression evidence examiners in Orange County. The Latent Print Unit examines and verifies latent fingerprints, aiding in identity confirmation and investigations. CSI Specialists: Respond to all types of crime scenes, including officer-involved shootings, and collect evidence that will be crucial for further lab analysis. Stay tuned for tomorrow for a behind the scenes look at the Criminalistics Bureau.