In August of 2023, deputies were involved in an deputy-involved shooting in the unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon. The case was investigated by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and no criminal charges were filed. The deputy involved shooting was determined to be within policy.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2025) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Encourages families and students to buckle up their helmets and lace up their sneakers for National Walk and Roll to School Day. This annual event celebrates the benefits of exercise and brings attention to the need for safe, accessible walking and biking routes.
“National Walk and Roll to School Day is a great opportunity to highlight pedestrian safety and advocate for safer routes for walking and biking to school,” Orange County Sheriff Traffic Bureau Sergeant Ishii said. “This day underscores the importance of boosting physical activity and prioritizes the safety of the families in our community.”
While extra caution is needed on the morning of October 8, with increased foot and bike traffic, it’s important to stay alert every single day. Drivers should be prepared to stop for school buses and children crossing the street, and always slow down in school zones.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers tips for students who walk, bike, or roll to school:
Plan your route on roads with sidewalks or paths away from traffic. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible or ride your bike in the same direction as traffic as far on the right-hand side as possible.
Use crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals. If there are unmarked crosswalks, cross at corners on streets.
Always look left-right-left before crossing the street. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Watch for cars entering/leaving driveways or parking spaces. Never assume a driver sees you.
Always wear a helmet when riding or rolling.
Be visible. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight when it’s dark.
Stay alert. Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
Schools are encouraged to register at walkbiketoschool.orgas a way of tracking participation and showing support for active, healthy, and safe transportation.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2025) – October is National Pedestrian Safety Month and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind drivers to always take extra precautions to help protect pedestrians.
On average, a pedestrian is killed every 72 minutes and one is injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In California, 1,106 pedestrians were struck and killed in 2023.
“In Orange County, walking should always be an easy and safe option for getting around,” Regional Traffic Bureau Sergeant Ishii said. “We want to make sure that people walking are safe. We urge drivers to take the time to look out for people. Small actions, like slowing down, putting away distractions and yielding at crosswalks, can reduce crashes and serious injuries.”
Vehicle speed impacts people walking, who do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers. A difference of just 15 MPH (20 MPH to 35 MPH) significantly increases the likelihood that a person walking will be killed if struck by a vehicle.
To promote the safety of people walking, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield and running stop signs or signals.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers these driving tips to keep everyone safe:
Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, around schools and in neighborhoods where children are present.
Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions.
Drive sober.
Always stop for people in crosswalks and avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
Avoid distractions such as texting or eating while driving. Keep your focus on the road.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2025) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Encourages families and students to buckle up their helmets and lace up their sneakers for National Walk and Roll to School Day. This annual event celebrates the benefits of exercise and brings attention to the need for safe, accessible walking and biking routes.
“National Walk and Roll to School Day is a great opportunity to highlight pedestrian safety and advocate for safer routes for walking and biking to school,” Orange County Sheriff Traffic Bureau Sergeant Ishii said. “This day underscores the importance of boosting physical activity and prioritizes the safety of the families in our community.”
While extra caution is needed on the morning of October 8, with increased foot and bike traffic, it’s important to stay alert every single day. Drivers should be prepared to stop for school buses and children crossing the street, and always slow down in school zones.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers tips for students who walk, bike, or roll to school:
Plan your route on roads with sidewalks or paths away from traffic. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible or ride your bike in the same direction as traffic as far on the right-hand side as possible.
Use crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals. If there are unmarked crosswalks, cross at corners on streets.
Always look left-right-left before crossing the street. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Watch for cars entering/leaving driveways or parking spaces. Never assume a driver sees you.
Always wear a helmet when riding or rolling.
Be visible. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight when it’s dark.
Stay alert. Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
Schools are encouraged to register at walkbiketoschool.orgas a way of tracking participation and showing support for active, healthy, and safe transportation.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2025): Today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department released a Critical Incident Video depicting the deputy-involved shooting that occurred on August 7, 2025, in Lake Forest, Calif.
The Critical Incident Video is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/N5Wkj4RisGI.
In order to foster greater public trust with the community we serve, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will publish Critical Incident Videos about incidents in which the actions of department members in the performance of their duties are likely to have a significant impact on the Department, community, citizens, or any other person, and/or incidents involving the use of deadly force or force resulting in serious physical injury.
Critical Incident Videos offer a clear and concise overview of the incident with relevant video, audio, photographs and information to give context to what occurred preceding, during and immediately after a critical incident. The videos will contain the factual circumstances as they are known at the time. No conclusions will be drawn about whether or not deputies acted in a manner consistent with our policies, and in accordance with the law, until all facts are known and the investigations are complete.
Per protocol, the investigation of the deputy-involved shooting will be handled by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Laguna Hills, Calif. (Sep. 20, 2025): A multi-agency officer-involved shooting occurred in Laguna Hills in the early morning of Saturday, Sept. 20.
On Friday, Sept. 19, around 9:53 p.m., the Carlsbad Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the 2300 block of Rising Glen Way. Carlsbad officers located a female with gunshot wounds and determined she was dead. The shooting victim's vehicle was stolen from the scene by the male suspect. The relationship between the victim and suspect is not known.
At 12:18 a.m., the Laguna Beach Police Department received a notification from a license plate reader at El Toro Road and Laguna Canyon Road that the vehicle was entering their city. At 12:55 a.m. officers from the Newport Beach Police Department spotted the stolen vehicle near Newport Coast and Pacific Coast Highway. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect did not stop for officers, and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, an Irvine Police K-9 unit joined to assist.
The pursuit continued to the Interstate 5 Southbound, where the suspect exited at El Toro Road. After traveling through a business complex, the suspect's vehicle exited at Regional Center and drove northbound on El Toro Road. The suspect stopped his vehicle in the lanes of traffic, just south of Avenida De La Carlota, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the approaching police vehicles. Multiple officers returned gunfire.
The suspect continued east towards the In-N-Out at 24001 Avenida de La Carlota, continuing to fire at officers. Multiple police vehicles were struck with bullets. After being struck by gunfire, he fell to the ground in the restaurant's parking lot and continued to fire at officers.
Once the shooting ended, officers approached the suspect and began to render medical attention. He was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The identity of the suspect, who is an adult male, is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
No officers were injured during the incident.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit is handling the attempted murder of the police officers. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has photos or videos of the incident is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or https://www.ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.
In February of 2022, deputies were involved in an officer involved shooting in the city of Lake Forest. The case was investigated by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and no criminal charges were filed. The officer involved shooting was determined to be within policy.
In January of 2018, a deputy was involved in a use of force at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana. The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued.
In April of 2017, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana. The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued.
In October of 2016, a deputy was involved in a use of force at the Central Women's Jail in Santa Ana. The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued.
