Los Santos County Sheriff's Department
| Los Santos County Sheriff's Department | |
|---|---|
| File:Placeholder LSSD Patch.jpg | |
| Type | County Law Enforcement |
| Jurisdiction | Los Santos County, San Andreas |
| Headquarters | Los Santos County Sheriff Headquarters |
| Employees | 18,000 |
| Chief / Director | Sheriff Patrick Machado |
| Parent Agency | County of Los Santos |
| Established | 1850 |
| Website | www.lssd.org |
The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department (LSSD), officially the County of Los Santos Sheriff's Department, is the primary county-level law enforcement agency serving Los Santos County, San Andreas.
The department is the largest sheriff’s department in the United States and the fourth largest local law enforcement agency in the country, following the Liberty City Police Department (LCPD), the Chicago Police Department (CPD), and the Los Santos Police Department (LSPD). The LSSD employs approximately 18,000 personnel, including 9,915 sworn deputies and 9,244 civilian staff members.
The department provides municipal police services to unincorporated communities and 42 of the 88 incorporated cities within Los Santos County.
Responsibilities
The department’s three primary responsibilities are:
- Municipal law enforcement services within Los Santos County
- Courthouse security for the Superior Court of Los Santos County
- Operation, housing, and transportation within the county jail system
In addition, the LSSD:
- Contracts with the Los Santos Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metrolink
- Provides law enforcement services to ten community colleges
- Patrols county parks, golf courses, lakes, hospitals, and county facilities
- Operates crime laboratories and homicide investigation units
- Provides academy training and technical services to smaller agencies within San Andreas
History
Early Formation (1850–1930)
The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department was established in 1850 following the Mexican-American War. After the founding of the independent San Andreas Republic and its voluntary annexation by the United States, law enforcement responsibilities were divided between the Los Santos Rangers (later the LSPD) and the Los Santos Sheriff.
In the early 20th century, the Sheriff’s Department evolved into a structured institution of permanent deputies rather than a sheriff-led posse system. By 1930, deputies formally adopted standardized uniforms, and county jails came under full administrative control of the department.
During the 1930s, the department assisted the LSPD in suppressing labor unrest during the so-called “Red Squad” era.
Mid-20th Century
In 1947, the department hired its first female Deputy Sheriff, becoming one of the earliest agencies in the nation to do so.
The period between the 1950s and 1970s proved turbulent, particularly during the 1961 Davis Race Riots and later the 1992 Jim Queen riots. The LSSD assisted municipal agencies in responding to widespread civil unrest.
Collins Administration and Corruption (2009–2017)
Sheriff Peter “Pico” Collins led the department from 2009 until 2017. His tenure was later marred by widespread corruption allegations, deputy gang activity, and civil rights violations within county jail facilities.
Following whistleblower reports and an ACLU lawsuit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a public corruption investigation. Collins and his Undersheriff were subsequently convicted and sentenced to federal prison.
Machado Administration (2017–Present)
Following federal oversight by the Department of Justice, a special election resulted in Patrick Machado becoming Sheriff of Los Santos County. Upon taking office, Sheriff Machado ordered the reopening of the Twin Towers Los Santos County Jail to address severe overcrowding within the detention system.
Misconduct and Controversies
The Davis Sheriff’s Station has been the subject of repeated allegations of brutality, fraud, and deputy gang activity.
Following riots on July 30, 2022, Deputy Sarah Ostrowski publicly alleged institutional corruption and the presence of violent deputy gangs within the Davis station. These allegations renewed scrutiny of internal oversight practices and public accountability within the department.
Demonstrations were held outside the Davis facility, including accusations from the Davis City Council regarding alleged falsification of contract hour statistics.
Contract Law Enforcement
The LSSD provides contract law enforcement services to multiple municipalities within Los Santos County.
Davis
The Davis Police Department operated from 1906 until May 14, 1998, when it was disbanded by the Davis City Council amid rising homicide rates and public controversy.
On September 17, 2000, the City of Davis entered into a contract with the LSSD for municipal policing services. The agreement, valued at approximately $22 million annually, funds patrol operations and specialized enforcement units within the city.
Paleto Bay Sheriff's Station
Established in 1958, the Paleto Bay Sheriff’s Station serves northern and rural areas of Los Santos County, including:
- Paleto Bay
- Mount Chiliad
- Mount Gordo
- Grapeseed
- Raton Canyon
- Sandy Shores
- Grand Senora Desert
- Harmony
- Tongva Hills
- Banham Canyon
- North Chumash
Rank Structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Sheriff | ★★★★★ |
| Undersheriff | ★★★★ |
| Assistant Sheriff | ★★★ |
| Division Chief | ★★ |
| Area Commander | ★ |
| Captain | Gold Bars |
| Lieutenant | Single Bar |
| Sergeant | Chevron |
| Deputy Sheriff (Master FTO) | Designated Insignia |
| Deputy Sheriff Bonus I / II | Corporal-style Insignia |
| Deputy Sheriff | — |
| Deputy Sheriff Trainee (Non-sworn) | — |