The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department — "A Tradition of Service"

Los Santos County Sheriff · April 22, 2024

The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department is a law enforcement faction that focuses on providing enjoyable and realistic police role play. The faction is primarily based upon and draws inspiration from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

LSSD — Information

LSSD — Recruitment

LSSD — Discord

LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF

JIM BECKETT

Sheriff Jim Beckett is the 25th Sheriff of Los Santos County. Sheriff Beckett commands the largest Sheriff's Department in the United States, with nearly 17,000 budgeted sworn and professional staff.

Jim Beckett was elected as the 25th Sheriff of Los Santos County Sheriff on April 15, 2025. Sheriff Beckett is a 36-year veteran of the Department. Beckett began his Sheriff's Department career inside one of the county's high-security jail facilities & after two years, moved to patrol in the unincorporated areas of the county, where he quickly advanced as a Field Training Officer. His leadership and experience soon earned him a position to coordinate the program, where he helped standardize deputy training across the department. Before his election as Sheriff, Beckett rose through the ranks & served as an Assistant Sheriff for Countywide Operations.

As Sheriff, he remains committed to ethical leadership, operational excellence, and building trust within the communities.

LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF

RANK ORGANIZATION

Executive Staff consists of the Sheriff of Los Santos County, the Undersheriff, the Assistant Sheriff(s) and the Division Chief(s). Executive Staff represent the leadership of the Department and are the primary decision-making body on issues affecting the Department:

The Sheriff of Los Santos County ()
The Sheriff of the County of Los Santos is responsible and accountable for the running of the Department. Ergo, the Sheriff shall have governance over any and all policies, Divisions, Bureaus, members and assets of the Department.

The Undersheriff ()

The Undersheriff is second in command of the Department and assumes the duties of the Sheriff in his or her absence. As chief assistant to the Sheriff, the Undersheriff provides advice on administrative issues which include Department direction, legislative and operational concerns, and budgetary and personnel matters.

Assistant Sheriffs ()
Assistant Sheriff is a senior executive of the Department who commands and is responsible for the activities of his or her concerned Division(s) as well as any other specialized Units/programs assigned by the Sheriff and/or Undersheriff and in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Sheriff and Undersheriff. The Sheriff may appoint an Assistant Sheriff to assume the duties assigned to the second in command of the Department. This appointment would be in effect during the Sheriff’s and the Undersheriff’s absence.

Division Chiefs ()
A Division Chief is a senior executive of the Department who commands and is accountable for the activities of a Division in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and Assistant Sheriff(s). In managing a Division, a Division Chief is responsible for anticipating the problems, needs, trends and resources of the Division and its personnel, and for providing the appropriate leadership to accomplish goals which complement the mission of the Department.

Command Staff consists of the Area Commanders and Captains. Command Staff partake in the Department's

administrative leadership by overseeing the functions of Divisions, Bureaus, Schools & Programs.

Area Commanders ()
Area Commander is a position that assists the Chief of a Division as an assistant Division Chief — or in the case of the Executive Office of the Administration & Technology Services, an adjutant to the Assistant Sheriff — and may hold other special positions as directed by the Sheriff. As assistant Division Chief, an Area Commander is directly accountable to the appropriate Division Chief or Assistant Sheriff for the proper execution of assigned functions and for the management of assigned Units.

Captains ()
The Captain is the Unit Commander of a Bureau, Facility or Station. As such, Captains are the leaders of the management teams at their Units and are responsible for all of their functions and operations. Captains shall set the operational philosophies of the Units to ensure that the needs and goals of the community, the Department and their staffs are met to the highest degree possible.

Supervisory Staff consists of Lieutenants and Sergeants. Supervisory Staff provide front-line leadership and guidance to Department personnel in the field. Supervisory Staff take routine command of common tactical incidents occurring throughout the Department.

Lieutenants ()
Lieutenants manage the operations of a given shift or activity, command a specialized detail, or provide staff assistance to a superior officer.

Sergeants ()
Sergeants are the most visible and critical element of sworn supervision within the Department. Sergeants are first-line supervisors with primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with the professional and ethical standards of the Department by all subordinate Deputy Sheriffs and civilian employees. Sergeants shall know the duties and responsibilities of a first-line supervisor with regard to the Peace Officer's Bill of Rights, Civil Service Rules, applicable, FLSA, the disciplinary and employee grievance processes, and administrative investigation procedures. Sergeants shall strive to be positive role models and to provide leadership in delivering Service-Oriented Policing and in assisting the community in solving problems and maintaining the peace.

Field Staff consists of Deputy Sheriffs. Deputy Sheriffs man all front-line Department positions and are the most visible group of Department personnel. Deputy Sheriffs respond to calls for service and preserve the public peace.

Bonus (II) Deputies (/)
Deputy Sheriffs (Bonus II) serve as 1) Master Field Training Officer, 2) Senior Gang Detail Deputy, 3) Senior Traffic Investigator 4) Senior Academy Training Instructor (TB), 5) Senior Background Investigator (TB),

Bonus (I) Deputies ()
Deputy Sheriffs (Bonus I) serve as 1) Field Training Officer, 2) Gang Detail Deputy, 3) Traffic Investigator, 4) Tactical Deputy, 5) Certified Flight Instructors.

Deputy Sheriffs (—)
Deputy Sheriff is the main work force from the sworn category, and are responsible for performing a wide variety of law enforcement functions. A Deputy Sheriff must exhibit discretion, a comprehensive knowledge of the law and the highest ethical standards. A Deputy Sheriff must be service-oriented and actively assist community members in solving problems and maintaining the peace. A Deputy Sheriff shall be held accountable for their actions and must adhere to Departmental Core Values.

LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF

STRUCTURE

Administrative Services Division

The Administrative Services Division is comprised of Sheriff's Information Bureau, Training Bureau, Field Training Program and Basic Sergeant Supervisor School. The Administrative Services Division is responsible for providing administrative staff services to the Department Executives and to evaluate and refine policy and procedures through the inspection and training processes. It is also charged with identifying and mitigating areas of actual or potential Department Liability arising during the course of the Department's daily activities.

The Training Bureau
The Training Bureau is responsible for the entire recruitment process of the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department. The Training Bureau aims to provide the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department with the best suited and qualified deputy sheriffs by testing, assessing, and thoroughly evaluating each possible deputy sheriff candidate. The Training Bureau consists of three units; The Background Investigations Unit, the Recruit Training Unit, and the Weapons Training Unit.

The Sheriff's Information Bureau
The primary function of this Bureau is to maintain the Department's Operations Log and disseminate information and news to the general public, members of the Department and the news media. The Bureau is also responsible for evaluating proposed Department public relations programs. The Bureau responsibilities are performed through the operation of a 24-hour command information center, by program evaluation and development, by continuing liaison with the press and the community and by responding to telephonic and written inquiries.

The Field Training Program
The Field Training Program is responsible for the introduction of a newly assigned officer to the personnel, procedures, policies, and purposes of the individual law enforcement department. The Field Training Program provides the initial formal and informal training specific to the department and the day-to-day duties of its officers and it makes the new officers' field training as effective as possible by assigning them to multiple Field Training Officers (FTOs).

The Basic Sergeant Supervisor School
The Basic Sergeant Supervisor School is responsible for the training of Assistant Field Sergeants, traditional education and lecture on the fundamentals of police supervision, field-based mentoring and evaluation, providing hands-on experience to solidify the material taught; and education, training, and evaluation of all new Sergeants in the Department.

Central Patrol Division

This Division is responsible for the performance of the basic police tasks of protecting life and property, preserving the peace, preventing and suppressing crime, and the apprehension of violators of the law. The Central Patrol Division is responsible for the operation of the following station - West Vinewood Sheriff's Station.

The West Vinewood Sheriff's Station
The West Vinewood Sheriff's Station services the following areas:

Los Santos City East

Los Santos City Central

Red County & surrounding areas

Bone County & surrounding areas, and

Tierra Robada.

West Vinewood has a sub-station in Dillimore.

Detective Division

The Detective Division's mission is to support the overall mission of the Sheriff’s Department by providing the highest quality criminal investigative services on a countywide basis. Most detectives work out of one of the department's stations. Both the East Los Santos Station and Santa Clara Valley Sheriff's station detectives that investigate homicides, petty thefts, white collar crime, ect. Specialized detectives are from Operation Safe Streets Bureau.

Major Crimes Bureau

The responsibilities for the Major Crimes Bureau (MCB) include:

Conducting investigations and providing investigative services to the Sheriff's Department, and to other agencies county-wide

Specializing in investigations related to organized crime, prison gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, terrorist groups, cargo theft, gaming, etc.

The Operation Safe Streets Bureau
This bureau is comprised of the following details:

Gang Enforcement Team (GET)

Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS).

The responsibilities for the Gang Enforcement Team (GET) include:

Provide uniformed personnel to work directed patrol in the most active or violent target gang areas

Gather, disseminate, and exchange information about street gangs and their association with Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS) and

Participate and prepare presentations for civic groups about street gangs and their activities.

The responsibilities for Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS) include:

Investigate high-grade felonies of targeted gangs

Gather, coordinate, and disseminate information concerning gangs.

Professional Standards Division

The Professional Standards Division's mission is to provide and maintain professional standards among departmental staff and to analyze, prevent and resolve any abuse committed on duty or any complaint made on behalf of a Deputy Sheriff.

The Internal Affairs Bureau
The Internal Affairs Bureau is responsible for:

Conducting administrative investigations of policy violations by Department members,

Conducting administrative investigations of policy of equality violations by Department members,

Conducting administrative investigations for outside law enforcement agencies at the request of the agency,

Monitoring criminal investigations of Department members, responding to deputy-involved shootings and specific significant use of force incidents, and preparing an administrative review of the incident for the Executive Force Review Committee,

Conducting procedural drug tests at the direction of a department member’s unit commander or higher ranking member and

Compiling data for all shootings involving Department personnel (e.g., hit, non-hit, negligent discharge, warning shot, and animal shootings).

The Advocacy Bureau
The Advocacy Bureau is the legal advisor to Department Executives and Management. They oversee legal issues and provide legal advisement to multiple executive & investigative entities.

Special Operations Division

The Special Operations Division is comprised of the Special Enforcement Bureau and the Aero Bureau. The Special Operations Division provides support to all units within the Department and mutual aid assistance to outside agencies via its various bureaus and details, including Air Support for pursuits or rescue operations, as well as a tactical response to high-risk situations.

Special Enforcement Bureau
Provides a variety of specialized support services throughout the County and is comprised of two details: 1) Special Enforcement Detail and 2) Emergency Services Detail.

The responsibilities for the Special Enforcement Detail include (but not limited to):

Maintains Special Weapons Team (SWT) availability on a 24-hour basis for handling barricaded suspects, hostage and active shooter situations, and serving arrest and search warrants in identified high-risk or other hazardous situations.

Augments Station and Unit level enforcement efforts through saturation patrol, area or suspect surveillance, high-risk traffic stops, or other tactical services as needed.

Mobilizes to provide a law enforcement response at the scene of disorders and other man-made or natural disasters; and

Provides protection for designated dignitaries and jury, site or prisoner security dictated by special circumstances;

The responsibilities for the Emergency Services Detail include (but not limited to):

Conducts searches and rescues, including mountain and underwater operations;

Provides 24-hour law enforcement paramedic capability and services, including coverage for the Special Weapons Teams during all high-risk operations;

Maintains law enforcement and rescue patrol capabilities in the County Forests;

Maintains law enforcement and rescue patrol capabilities in the waters, including staffing of the Ocean Rescue patrol boat;

Provides crew staffing for the Air Rescue 5 helicopter, which is available to respond to emergencies Countywide; and

Conducts investigations of all scuba related fatalities and accidents in the County’s jurisdiction.

Aero Bureau
Aero Bureau performs aerial support services using various types of aircraft and is responsible for:

Assisting Patrol, Detective, and Special Enforcement Bureau Operations.

Investigating violations of regulations governing flight of aircraft and prosecuting offenders,

Investigating all fatal or serious aircraft accidents.

Granting permission to land aircraft on, performing maintenance on, and continuing the certification of all helipads under the control of the Department

Providing airplanes and/or helicopters and flight crews.

LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF

HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department was formerly known as the San Andreas Sheriff's Department, which was implemented in September of 2008. The faction was created for an alternative law enforcement faction. The SASD at the time started off incredibly small, and focused on one thing; patrol. The faction progressed a lot since then and introduced specialized units such as Tactical Response Unit, and Investigations Unit(s). In December of 2017, Sheriff Ezio Poldilotta (Wildcat) became Sheriff. The goal for the faction was to always portray a very authentic Sheriff's Department and Wildcat did the the unthinkable. The San Andreas Sheriff's Department was no more, and became the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department with the base of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Since then, the faction has continued in the foot steps of portraying the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. With that being said, the factions in character history is also based off of our real life counter part.

The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department, which was founded in 1850, was the first professional police force in the Los Santos area. The all-volunteer, Los Santos-specific Los Santos Rangers were formed in 1853 to assist the LASD. They were soon succeeded by the Los Santos City Guards, another volunteer group. Neither force was deemed efficient and Los Santos became known for its violence, gambling and "vice".

On December 15, 2009, the Los Santos County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to merge the Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The merger took place in 2010.

The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department is a law enforcement agency serving Los Santos County, San Andreas. LSSD is the largest sheriff's department in the United States and the third largest local police agency in the United States, following the New York Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department. LSSD has approximately 18,000 employees, 9,915 sworn deputies and 9,244 unsworn members. It is sometimes confused with the unrelated Los Santos Police Department which provides law enforcement services within the city of Los Santos, although both departments have their headquarters in downtown Los Santos. The LSSD provides municipal police services to the unincorporated communities and 42 of the 88 cities within Los Santos County.

Credits to everyone that's helped with this thread over the years. This thread uses some of the old information and new information of the faction. The thread has been enhanced over the years by several individuals, and we thank them.

Edited May 6 by Los Santos County Sheriff