SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - RATIFY ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS FROM THE EAST COUNTY POSSE AND THE SAN DIEGO HONORARY DEPUTY SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, provide a process for accepting gifts by the administrative heads of each department in the County, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. This is a request to ratify the acceptance of donations to the San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) totaling $568,673, of which $5,000 is from the East County Posse for gift cards and $563,673 in cash, equipment, canines, services and warranties is from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association (HDSA). The East County Posse is a philanthropic organization dedicated to helping East County residents in need and the HDSA is a group of local business and community leaders that provide support to the Sheriff’s Office.
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHERIFF
1. In accordance with County of San Diego Administrative Code Article III, Section 66 Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, ratify the acceptance of gift cards valued at $5,000 from the East County Posse and cash, equipment, canines, services and warranties valued at $563,673 from the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association for the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign letters of appreciation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the County of San Diego to the East County Posse and the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Public safety success results from well-trained, well-equipped, and healthy personnel creating positive partnerships with our community. The donations from the East County Posse and the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association support San Diego Sheriff’s Office personnel and programs. These donations help support our employees from diverse backgrounds and identities by giving them resources and opportunities to provide quality services and participate in morale boosting community events. The acceptance and use of these donations demonstrate our commitment to enhance both employee and community wellness and engagement. The goal of the San Diego Sheriff’s Rise Above Youth Program is to reach all San Diego County communities. Participants and their families include members of our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. By helping the San Diego Sheriff’s Office enrich career technical education programs for the incarcerated population with equipment and tools, there is a higher likelihood of successful reentry through employment pathways.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to receive donations in support of employee wellness, morale, and safety with equipment, furniture and supplies, contributes to the County of San Diego’s Sustainability goal of providing just and equitable access. Having clean and damage free furniture and office space creates an environment for healthy and positive personnel. Caring for the work environment of San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) employees supports compassion in our personnel, which assists with building trust and partnerships with our communities. By providing support, the East County Posse and the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association are both helping the Sheriff’s Office with furthering the County’s Sustainability goal of protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the region. The Rise Above Youth Program invigorates our staff, increases stakeholder engagement, breeds community participation, and enhances community awareness of the threat of substance abuse and gang involvement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact associated with today’s request to ratify the acceptance of donations totaling $568,673 from the East County Posse ($5,000) and the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association ($563,673). Future ongoing costs associated with the canines including, but not limited to, food and veterinary care, will be included in future Operational Plans for the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) accepts tangible and monetary donations to help support its mission of providing the highest quality public safety services to everyone in San Diego County. These donations support the Sheriff’s Office in improving the delivery of services that support law enforcement, quality of life, community partnerships, engagement, and emergency response.
East County Posse
The East County Posse is a philanthropic organization dedicated to helping East County residents in need. In December 2025, the East County Posse donated $5,000 in gift cards to the Alpine and Rancho San Diego stations to distribute to families in need during the holiday season. The 100 $50 gift cards were distributed to the deputies to provide to members of the community they assessed to be in need while responding to a call for service. At the request of East County Posse, they wanted to ensure that families would be given donations anonymously as to maintain respect for the community members’ circumstances. It was the intent of the East County Posse that these gift cards would help ease financial stress of the community members and their families during the holiday season, especially when deputies came across families and individuals in difficult circumstances, by engaging in uplifting interactions and bringing a sense of holiday cheer between members of the public and Sheriff’s deputies.
This is a request to ratify the acceptance of the donation of gift cards valued at $5,000 from the East County Posse.
San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association
The San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association (HDSA) is a group of local business and community leaders with a long history of providing philanthropic support to the Sheriff’s Office, funding equipment purchases, as well as facilitating donations from private groups and citizens. In FY 2025-26, HDSA donated cash, equipment, canines, services and warranties that benefitted a wide range of programs in the Sheriff’s Office.
In July and September 2025, the HDSA donated two plaques valued at $40 and two gift certificates valued at $600 to be used towards a firearm to recognize and celebrate the graduating cadet with the highest scores on their firearms qualifications in the 141st and 142nd Law Enforcement Regional Academies. In December 2025, the HDSA donated eight rowing machines valued at $7,543 to the Academy.
The Sheriff’s Office has been providing law enforcement services to the City of Lemon Grove since 1977. On January 22, 2024, torrential rain led to historic flooding that damaged communities, homes and infrastructure across San Diego County. The Lemon Grove Substation sustained major damage after 24 inches of water surged through the building’s ceiling and walls. In July 2025, the HDSA paid for movers valued at $15,750 and furniture valued at $45,000 to furnish the Lemon Grove Substation.
On August 26, 2025 (2), the Board of Supervisors approved Sheriff’s Office Emergency Planning Detail staff to travel to the United Kingdom to attend a training program on preparation for major events. In August 2025, the HDSA donated $4,407 to reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for travel expenses.
Rise Above Youth Program is a youth empowerment program developed and taught by Sheriff’s Office staff at various patrol stations. It is an 8-week program for 9 to 12-year-olds that focuses on connecting youth with positive role models, teaching conflict resolution, leadership and involvement in community service projects and events. It is a free program where students and their parents interact with Sheriff’s Office staff and community resources for 1.5 hours, one day a week. Each program starts with about 35 students and averages about 28-30 students showing up weekly and parent participation is strong. In October 2025, the HDSA donated swag and shirts valued at $564 for the Rise Above Youth Program, helping to create an engaging family environment.
The Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Detail has primary responsibility for all search and rescue missions involving lost or stranded persons within the unincorporated areas of San Diego County as well as certain contract cities the Sheriff’s Office services. Search and Rescue also activates during natural disasters such as wildfires, flooding and earthquakes. Between October and December 2025, the HDSA donated all weather jackets valued at $9,580 to the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Detail to use during search and rescue missions.
The Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit was established in 1967 to support field units with highly skilled canine teams. Canines and their handlers respond to critical incidents and assist in law enforcement operations, including the apprehension of violent offenders and wanted suspects, as well as evidence and narcotics detection. In October 2025, the HDSA donated a storage container box valued at $3,419 for the storage of canine equipment and supplies. In November 2025, the HDSA donated 17 canine ballistic vests valued at $61,951. Purchasing a new canine for the Canine Unit is a time-consuming process and involves extensive testing to find suitable candidates. The canines undergo training in protection, article searches, tracking suspects or evidence, and detecting drugs. Between April and May 2026, the HDSA donated four canines valued at $54,100 to add to the canine team.
Reentry Services Division (RSD) is responsible for all in-custody educational and rehabilitative programs and coordinates the Sheriff’s reentry efforts. The RSD Construction Trades Program is a Career Technical Education (CTE) program out of East Mesa Reentry Facility, designed to provide program participants with foundational construction trades skills that prepare them for future employment opportunities in the construction industry. Through structured curriculum, hands on training and community partnerships, program participants receive training in core construction skills. Skill development opportunities range from carpentry, framing, drywall installation, concrete framing and pouring, basic electrical, job site safety, blueprint reading, measuring and layout, and the proper use of hand and power tools. As a hands on CTE program, access to modern, industry standard tools and construction equipment is essential to delivering meaningful instruction and preparing participants for employment upon release. Providing participants with practical experience using professional tools enhances skill development, reinforces safety protocols, and ensures alignment with workforce expectations in the community. The ability to train with the same types of equipment used in the construction field strengthens the program’s effectiveness and supports successful skill development. In November 2025, the HDSA donated tools, construction equipment and supplies valued at $20,903 for the RSD Construction Trades Program.
The Fallbrook Substation serves the North County unincorporated communities of Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow and De Luz. In December 2025, the HDSA donated a television and treadmill valued at $5,238, to support staff wellness.
On June 19, 2018 (6), and November 17, 2020 (3), the Board of Supervisors ratified the acceptance of donations of TruNarc devices from the HDSA. TruNarc devices rapidly identify narcotics and controlled substances. In February 2026, the HDSA purchased warranties for those donated devices and existing devices valued at $49,133 for a total of 19 TruNarc devices at various SDSO patrol stations, detention facilities, and specialized units.
In May 2026, the HDSA donated furniture valued at $285,446 to furnish the old San Diego Law Library located in Vista, which will house the Vista Patrol Station Area Investigations office.
This is a request to ratify the acceptance of donations of cash, equipment, canines, services and warranties valued at $563,673 from the HDSA.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Empower Strategic Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by accepting and utilizing donations to invest in our workforce to ensure continuity of operations remains at its best and implementing proven best practices to achieve organizational excellence.
Respectfully submitted,
kelly a. martinez
SHERIFF
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Letter of Appreciation to the East County Posse
Attachment B - Letter of Appreciation to the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association