With 13contract cities and Orange County’s unincorporated areas, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for the safety of students and staff for more than 125 public and private schools. While sound tactics and strategy for how to handle violence on school campuses have been in place for many years...

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at about 9:12 am, Lake Forest Police Services personnel were dispatched to the Walgreen’s on Muirlands Blvd reference a possible robbery in progress. Units arrived on the scene as the suspects fled the store and drove away in a white Nissan Rogue with no license...

An Orange County Sheriff’s Department engineer received international recognition for his work leading the team responsible for ensuring Orange County’s emergency services responders can effectively communicate. Nick Condaras, Senior Telecommunications Engineer assigned to the Technical Services Unit of the Technology Division, was named Radio Frequency Engineer of the Year by...

We are saddened to announce the passing of one of our Explosive Detection K9s, Sam. Sam, a 9-year-old black Labrador, served with the Sheriff’s Department for more than three years with his partner, Investigator Mireles. Before joining the Sheriff’s Department, Sam worked as an Explosive Detection K9 with the United...

Three men were arrested -- and a burglary plan potentially foiled -- after an observant deputy noticed suspicious behavior and initiated an investigative car stop in the city of Lake Forest. At nearly 3 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, a deputy was patrolling a business complex area near the north...

A group of suspects who stole a car and crashed it into a residence in the city of Lake Forest were taken into custody thanks to quick law enforcement response and assistance from engaged residents. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11, responded to reports...

Get them talking. Make a connection. Diffuse the situation. These are the tenets of crisis negotiation, but the process is much more nuanced and complex than it sounds. It was approaching 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when the mother of a 3-year-old called the Sheriff’s Department to report the...

In honor of National Forensic Science Week, the Orange County Crime Lab wants to educate the public on the many ways our work impacts the county and makes a difference in the life of the citizens we serve. DNA evidence often can be a critical component to solving crimes or...

Across the nation, the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities and claim new victims every day, including here in Orange County. The most dramatic change law enforcement has seen in this recent epidemic has been the introduction of fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid that is strong enough to...

Thanks to an engaged community and quick work by investigators, a man suspected of vandalizing a San Clemente middle school with hate-inspired graffiti is in custody. Deputies at about 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, responded to reports of graffiti on multiple buildings at Shorecliffs Middle School in the 200...