RURAL CRIME UNIT THE MISSION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY RURAL CRIME UNIT (RCU) is to enforce laws and provide investigative services focused primarily on theft and property damage in agricul-
Rural Crime deputies typically attend
forensic solutions have become a key
tural communities and rural industries.
meetings held by the stakeholders of
element of crime prevention efforts.
The RCU also provides current and
the San Luis Obispo County rural
up-to-date crime prevention techniques
community. Those stakeholders include
and strategies to the farmers and
the SLO County Farm Bureau, Cattle-
ranchers of San Luis Obispo County.
women and Cattlemen’s Associations.
One RCU deputy is assigned to each substation within the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction and supervised by a sergeant who reports to the headquarters
members of the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force and the Central Coast Rural Crime Task Force. Deputies attend meetings and training on a regular basis and host the Quarterly California
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trends as well as gather information that affects the diverse areas of the ranch provides the opportunity to make crime
agricultural training, deputies are
Meeting once per year.
to share information regarding crime
and agricultural communities. It also
commander. In addition to specific
Rural Crime Prevention Task Force
These meetings present the opportunity
prevention recommendations such as the formation of a “Ranch Watch” group, providing Owner Applied Number programs (OAN), and by completing a Ranch/Farm Security Survey conducted by our Rural Crime Unit in conjunction with Crime Prevention Unit. The distribu-
Although COVID-19 changed many of the Rural Crime Unit’s goals and objectives for the year, Rural Crime Deputies continue their important work of investigating agricultural-related criminal activity. In 2021, the Rural Crime Unit investigated approximately 134 cases. These cases included vandalism of property and equipment, theft of agricultural equipment, animal neglect and cruelty, and non-agricultural-related cases in patrol operations. In addition to investigations, Rural Crime Deputies responded to 1,275 calls for service and made 150 self-initiated contacts while conducting their duties.
tion and application of Smart Water CSI
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
