Del Mar Renews Contract With San Diego County​ Sheriff's Department

DEL MAR, CA — The San Diego County Sheriff's Department will continue to provide public safety services for its contract cities, including the city of Del Mar.

The department announced Wednesday that all nine of its contract cities unanimously ratified a five-year extension to continue with the sheriff's department as their law enforcement provider. The five-year contract runs through July 2027 for the cities of Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.

"Many of these cities have contracted for law enforcement services with the sheriff's department for decades," a news release from the department said. "This is a testament to the confidence the cities have in the services we provide and a proven track record of safe communities."

Established in 1850, the sheriff's department has provided public safety services to contract cities since 1959.

The agency has a staff of 4,693 and serves a population of more than 960,000. The department's patrol area covers 4,500 square miles including those in nine contract cities, as well as unincorporated areas of the county.

"Our employees are the very foundation of our organization. Their individual backgrounds, skills and experiences from all over the world reflect the diverse communities we are sworn to serve and protect," Undersheriff Kelly Martinez said in a statement. "I am privileged to work with caring professionals who take pride in advancing our mission of providing quality public safety service to everyone in San Diego County."

The sheriff's department has 21 stations and substations, as well as nearly a dozen support service offices in the region. The agency provides helicopter, bomb/arson, crime lab, homicide, special enforcement detail (SED/SWAT) and other emergency services for free to its contract cities and partner law enforcement agencies across the county, according to the department.