Latest News

deputy ian ur and krypto
July 5, 2018

By Paul Gonzalez, News-Press Staff Writer

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office's newest recruit will be tasked with sniffing out illegal drugs at the County Jail.

According to a Sheriff's Office News Release 14-month old Krypto, a high energy black Labrador, started his new assignment with the Jail K-9 Narcotics Team this week alongside his handler, four year veteran Custody Deputy Ian Ur.

The team was formed to reduce issues related to the sale, distribution and use of drugs in the jail....

deputy ian ur and krypto
July 3, 2018

By Emely Navarro

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's office introduced a new narcotics K9 to their team Monday. 

Krypto is a specially trained narcotics dog, purchased through funding from the Sheriff's Benevolent Posse's Project Deputy Dog program. His first day with at the Santa Barbara County Jail was July 2. He is trained to detect marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and methamphetamine.

The dog, alongside his handler Custody Deputy Ian Ur, will work to locate narcotics and reduce drug issues inside the county jail and the Northern Branch Jail when...

keyt dare donation
October 10, 2017

Sheriff's Benevolent Posse donates $40,000

by Dave Alley

ORCUTT, Calif. - Elementary students in Northern Santa Barbara County are continuing to receive D.A.R.E. education in school thanks to a recent donation by the Sheriff's Benevolent Posse.

"What it means is the D.A.R.E. program continues on," said Leslie Avila, (Ret.) Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputy...

September 30, 2017

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, on Sept. 19, approved acceptance of a $40,000 donation from the Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), to help fund the continued Sheriff’s D.A.R.E program.

The D.A.R.E. program provides local children with skills and strategies that will help them avoid negative influences and focus on their own strengths and realization of their potential.

The Benevolent Posse’s donation will be instrumental in allowing the Sheriff’s Office to continue the delivery of the Sheriff’s D.A.R.E. program to several schools within the...

k9 odin santa barbara sheriff deputy dog
August 12, 2017

Sheriff's Benevolent Posse announces $160,000 goal to add two K-9 deputies to Sheriff's Department lineup

by Shomik Mukherjee, Noozhawk Intern

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department wants to bring on two new crime-fighting dogs to assist in law enforcement efforts, and a partnering organization has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase and train the German shepherds.

The...

k9 unit
July 27, 2017

By Alys Martinez

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is raising money to add two new "K-9" deputies to the Sheriff's Office.

The fundraising effort is called, "Project Deputy Dog."

The funds will be used to purchase the canines, and eventually replacement canines when the dogs turn 8- years-old and reach the end of their service.

The goal of Project Deputy Dog is to raise approximately $160,000. In addition to the...

k-9 in front of patrol car
July 26, 2017

Reprinted from Santa Maria Times by 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Benevolent Posse has kicked off Project Deputy Dog to raise $160,000 to add two new K-9 deputies to the Sheriff's Office team.
Funds would be used to purchase two additional replacement K-9s, as well...

John McCarthy and Richard Kline with new laptop computer
June 23, 2017

Reprinted from keyt.com by Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County is currently facing a significant budget gap. It's a shortfall that exceeds over $34 million and is forcing the Board of Supervisors to potentially make painful cuts.

Among the county departments facing a drastic reduction in funding is the Sheriff's Office, which could be required to trim $5.5 million.

Sheriff Bill Brown said at Monday's budget hearing in Santa Barbara, the...

June 15, 2017

by April Charlton

After learning Rural Crime Unit sheriff deputies were working with an old and often unreliable computer, members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Benevolent Posse stepped into action to get new equipment.

The posse recently donated a new laptop computer to the county Sheriff's Office Rural Crime Unit, and members also acquired and donated an impact-resistant Pelican case to protect the device from damage when it's taken over rough rural terrain to assignments, according to a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

"Each...

September 27, 2016

by Brooke Holland

Benevolent Posse donates barn at Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center for the 10-horse unit that works on crowd control, search and rescue

After two years without a home for their horses, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office acquired a new addition to its mounted enforcement unit.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Benevolent Posse donated a $160,000 barn at the Santa Ynez Valley...

barn dedication
September 27, 2016

More than 250 people gathered at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center late Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit’s new headquarters and raise funds to fill unmet needs of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The nonprofit Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse held the Old Fashioned Barn Raising Dedication for the headquarters, named the Hilf-Douglas Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit Stable in honor of two donors primarily responsible for making the new facility a reality.

Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse...

ksby sheriffs barn
September 21, 2016

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's horses have a new home.

Two years ago, the Sheriff's lease at a barn in Lompoc was canceled by the federal government leaving the Sheriff's Mounted Enforcement Unit without a home. 

The Sheriff's Benevolent Society donated the $160,000 barn at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center to house the horses and provide a training facility. The barn has seven stalls and a conference room.

"The mounted unit provides such a great service to our entire county," said Richard Kline, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Benevolent Posse. "This is a...

August 30, 2016

by Oscar Flores

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A strong push to return the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's D.A.R.E program back the south county after being absent for more than 10 years, may soon become a reality.

Due to budget cuts, the program was stopped back in 2004.

Now, the Sheriff's Benevolent Posse has donated $35,000 to help fund and expand the Sheriff's D.A.R.E program, which provides the community's youth with skills and strategies aimed to help them avoid negative influences, and to focus on their own strengths and potential.

The Sheriff's Office has...

dare check
August 26, 2015

Santa Barbara – On August 25, 2015, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the acceptance of a $35,000 donation from the Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse works within our Santa Barbara County communities to increase community awareness about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and to raise much needed funding that improves resources and programs within the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is providing this donation to the Sheriff’s Office to help fund the continued provision and expansion...