Serving the City of Vista and the adjacent unincorporated areas.  

Emergency: 9-1-1

858-565-5200 (Dispatch)
760-940-4551 (Business)
760-630-9366 (Fax)

Message from Captain John Boyce 

The Vista Sheriff’s Station has been the hub for law enforcement services in the City of Vista and the surrounding unincorporated areas for more than 50 years. More than 150 sworn, professional, and volunteer staff members strive to provide prompt and courteous customer service, while ensuring the safety and security of those living, working, and visiting the area. To help meet the city’s mission, we provide a full range of public safety services.

As a contract city, the City of Vista benefits from the ability to utilize all of the Sheriff’s Department assets in times of need. Our station staff believes in quickly and aggressively handling quality of life issues, in addition to managing public safety. Working together with our community, we identify, prioritize, and solve neighborhood concerns. We achieve this by leveraging community, private, and governmental partnerships and using progressive and evolving policing strategies, like Information Led Policing (ILP).

Utilizing ILP enables us to efficiently and effectively deploy our resources. This means deputies aren’t simply reactive and responding to calls for service, but proactively impacting crime trends, using internal and external collaboration to interrupt, deter, or in some circumstances predict criminal activity.

Lastly, we encourage our community to offer suggestions on how we might provide better police services now, and in the future, as we strive to ensure the safety and security of our diverse and ever-changing Vista community.

Patrol

Patrol Deputies respond to calls for service 24 hours a day. The Patrol Division is responsible for all general law enforcement calls for service within the City of Vista and the surrounding unincorporated area. Each patrol deputy is assigned to a geographical "beat" area. This enables the deputies to become familiar with the residents of their "beat" and with the problems in the area. The "beat” system is a cornerstone of the Community Oriented Policing concept requiring the interaction of neighborhood residents with law enforcement. Patrol deputies are also active in the community during their shift, attending Neighborhood Watch meetings and making various presentations to youth groups, service groups and schools.

Detectives

Detectives are assigned geographic "beats" in the contract city and the surrounding unincorporated areas. Detectives investigate cases involving theft, physical assaults (excluding homicides), sexual assaults, vandalism, burglaries, annoying phone calls and other crimes. Specialized investigative units such as homicide, bomb/arson, financial crimes, domestic violence, child abuse and narcotics handle those specific crimes for the entire Sheriff's jurisdiction, including the Vista command. The Detective Division is responsible for investigating all general crime cases and arrests made by the patrol deputies. If the detective assigned to the case determines that there is enough evidence to prove a specific person or persons committed a crime, the case will be forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. The DA's office will review the case and determine if the case is suitable for criminal prosecution.

School Resource Officers

School Resource Officers are assigned to high schools within the City of Vista. They handle all crimes relating to school students. These crimes include truancy, tobacco, drug and alcohol related offenses as well as crimes that occur on school grounds.

Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving

The Community Policing and Problem-Solving Unit (COPPS) identifies and resolves problems, both criminal and non-criminal in nature. (COPPS) deputies perform investigative services, provide patrol support, coordinate municipal and departmental resources to improve public safety and address "quality of life" issues in the City of Vista. COPPS deputies operate under a philosophy to promote quality interaction between law enforcement and the community.

Traffic Division

Sheriff's Traffic Deputies focus on vehicle code enforcement, traffic collision investigations and traffic control. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is responsible for traffic enforcement in unincorporated areas throughout California. If you have a traffic question specific to the City of Vista, please don't hesitate to contact us via e-mail at: VistaTraffic@groups.sdsheriff.gov.

Crime Prevention

Crime Prevention Specialists at the Vista Station provide the following services to residents, businesses, schools, senior groups, churches, youth organizations and civic groups:

• Residential/Commercial Security Inspections and recommendations
• Neighborhood Watch/Business Watch Meetings
• Keeping Illegal Activity out of Apartment Communities (Crime Free Multi-Housing)
• Presentations for schools and businesses regarding the following topics:
  • Active Shooter
  • Personal Safety/Personal Safety for Seniors
  • Bike Safety
  • Internet Safety for parents and students
  • Bullying
  • Scams and Frauds
  • Vehicle Theft/Theft from vehicle prevention
  • Theft/Robbery Prevention

For more information or to schedule a presentation, please call the crime prevention unit at (760) 940-4564.

Learn more about the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Program

Senior Volunteers

The San Diego County Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol program is designed to draw upon the experience of senior citizens from our community. The men and women participating in the Vista Station's program provide valuable assistance to existing staff as it strives to increase the quality of life in the community.

These dedicated volunteers - seniors 50 years and older - provide many valuable services to the community including:

• Home vacation security checks
• Visit the homebound (You Are Not Alone - YANA)
• Enforce handicapped parking regulations
• Patrol in marked SVP vehicles
• Assist Crime Prevention with public presentations
• Conduct residential and business security surveys
• Abandoned Vehicle Abatement

Volunteers undergo a background check, receive training to perform their duties, and are asked to work a minimum of six hours per week. Volunteers are always in need. If interested, please call (760) 940-4434.

Learn more about the Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Program

Homelessness

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, in collaboration with the City of Vista, takes a proactive approach to addressing matters involving homelessness.  Through a collaborative strategy, the Sheriff's Department works closely with local government agencies and community partners to extend resources and services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Why are there so many people who are homeless in Vista?
The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city of Vista varies from day to day. Upon contact, resources are offered to the individuals but often they refuse housing services.

What is the Sheriff's Department and the City of Vista doing to address homelessness?
The Sheriff's Department has a Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) team which assists the City of Vista with addressing matters involving homelessness.  The COPPS team conducts outreach with community service members and social workers to help find solutions for individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

What should I do if I see a homeless encampment?  How can I report a homeless encampment?
Do not confront any individuals in an encampment.  Notify the Sheriff's Department by calling our non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.  You can also send an email to: Vista.HomelessOutreach@sdsheriff.gov.

What is the difference between a homeless encampment on public property versus private property?
When individuals experiencing homelessness are contacted on public property, they cannot be cited unless there is a shelter bed immediately available for them and they refuse to accept the shelter bed.  Case law (Martin v. Boise) ruled it is a violation of an individual's 8^th Amendment Right to be punished for camping on public property if there are no shelter beds available. 

Private property owners can sign a trespass order for their property and have the encampment removed.  With the property owner's consent, law enforcement will ask the individuals to leave the private property.

Are there any resources for the unsheltered in the North County?
There are numerous resources available that provide general support, food and shelter in North County. 

There are three permanent emergency shelters: 
Operation Hope in Vista accepts single women and families
La Posada in Carlsbad accepts single men
Haven House in Escondido accepts single women and men

The City of Vista partners with the following homeless service providers:
Alliance for Regional Solutions (Shelter Bed Programs)
Operation Hope and Alpha Project (Case Management)
Community Housing Works (Affordable Housing Development)
Exodus Recovery (Social Work and outreach to the unsheltered population)
Elderhelp (Home Share Program)
North County Lifeline (Homeless Prevention - financial assistance, case management, financial literacy for residents in threat of becoming homeless)

Here is a list of other resources and services in the North County:

Contact the Vista Sheriff's Station

• Vista Investigations Unit (760) 940-4915
• Vista Traffic Unit (760) 940-4556
• Vista Property and Evidence (760) 940-4568
• Vista Crime Prevention Unit (760) 940-4564
• Vista Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit
  and Gang Enforcement Team (GET) (760) 806-5352