SLO County Sheriff

Happy Halloween from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office! 🎃 Whether you’re heading out trick-or-treating, enjoying a neighborhood Halloween party, or handing out candy at home, we hope you have a fun and safe evening! A few quick safety reminders: * Watch for children and pedestrians. * Carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing. * Use sidewalks and crosswalks. * Check candy before enjoying. * Drive carefully and always plan for a sober ride. Look out for one another, have fun, and enjoy the Halloween festivities! Stay safe, SLO County! 👻

A little Halloween spirit made its way to the Sheriff’s Office Honor Farm this week! 🎃 Incarcerated individuals had the opportunity to paint pumpkins that were grown and harvested right here at the Honor Farm. It was a fun chance to try something different, enjoy a positive outlet, and share a little seasonal fun. A big thank-you to our Programs staff and Correctional Deputies who helped make this activity possible and brought some extra Halloween joy to everyone involved. Happy Halloween from our Custody Division!

The Sheriff's Office is issuing a press release regarding the Project Lifesaver program. A recent search for an elderly man with Alzheimer's disease and dementia in rural Arroyo Grande ended with good news. After being missing for nearly 24 hours, the man was found safe about a quarter mile from his home by Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers. The search involved Deputies, Detectives, Search and Rescue volunteers, drones, K9s, and assistance from agencies outside the county. While this incident had a positive outcome, not every missing person case ends as quickly or successfully. That's why the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office wants to remind families about Project Lifesaver, a program designed to help locate individuals who are at risk of wandering and becoming lost. Project Lifesaver uses proven radio-tracking technology combined with specially trained search and rescue personnel to locate missing individuals, often in a matter of minutes rather than hours or days. The program serves vulnerable individuals of all ages who may have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Autism, or any other neurological disorder. Currently, participants enrolled in Project Lifesaver in San Luis Obispo County range in age from just 7 years old to 93 years old. Individuals enrolled in the program wear a personalized, lightweight wristband that continuously emits a radio-tracking signal. If a participant goes missing, their caregiver/loved one will be able to reach the Search and Rescue Project Lifesaver team through the county’s 911 dispatch center, and a specially trained search and rescue team responds with mobile tracking equipment to locate the individual. The wristband weighs approximately one ounce and transmits a tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. Project Lifesaver personnel also conduct routine battery replacements and help ensure the wristbands remain properly secured. The program has demonstrated significant success nationwide, with recovery times averaging less than 30 minutes. By reducing the amount of time a vulnerable person is missing, Project Lifesaver can help prevent potentially dangerous situations, including exposure to extreme weather, injuries, and other life-threatening circumstances. In addition to operating the tracking equipment, Project Lifesaver team members receive specialized training in communicating with individuals who may have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Autism, or any other neurological disorder. This training helps search teams safely approach individuals who may be confused, frightened, or disoriented and reassure them as they are reunited with their loved ones. The Sheriff's Office encourages families caring for someone who may be prone to wandering to consider enrolling their loved one in Project Lifesaver before an emergency occurs. For more information about Project Lifesaver in San Luis Obispo County, or to learn about enrollment, please call (805) 748-6826.

Last night, our Sheriff’s Explorers Post held a pinning ceremony to welcome new members to the team! It was a great opportunity to come together, celebrate these young people, and give their families a closer look at the program and what it’s all about. We love watching this program grow and seeing our Explorers grow right alongside it. From building confidence and developing leadership skills to forming friendships and learning from one another, there’s so much more to this program than wearing the uniform. Please join us in welcoming our newest Explorers! We’re excited to see what’s ahead for each of them.

Not every day Sheriff’s Dispatch gets a visit from a dinosaur, a vampire, and Officer Judy Hopps! 🎃👻 Our trick-or-treaters brought plenty of Halloween fun, from monster truck drivers and construction workers to a tiger, unicorns, princesses, and more! Our Dispatch team loved welcoming some of our community’s kids for trick-or-treating and sharing a little Halloween spirit! 🍬🧡

We had a great time at Vineyard Elementary PTO’s Fall-O-Ween Trunk or Treat! School Resource Deputy Susy Corriea joined the fun, handing out candy and stickers to the kids. It was great seeing so many Templeton families come out to enjoy the evening together! Thanks to Vineyard Elementary PTO for putting on such a fun community event and letting us be part of it! 🧡

Today, on National First Responders Day, we recognize the people who show up when our communities need help most. From deputies and dispatchers to firefighters, paramedics, and the many others who answer the call, emergency response is built on teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to serving others. We’re proud to work alongside the first responders who serve our communities, often in difficult and unpredictable circumstances, and grateful for the partnerships that make us stronger together. To everyone who answers the call, thank you for showing up for our communities, day after day.

With the potential for significant storms this season, it's important to pay close attention to road signage. Never drive through flooded areas. #TurnAroundDontDrown @SLOCountyPWD @ChpSlo @CountyofSLO

The Sheriff's Office has issued a press release regarding an at-risk missing person who was safely located. On 10-27-2026, at approximately 12:30 PM, at-risk missing person, 86-year-old Michael Inglis, was safely located. He was found by Search and Rescue volunteers in the 700 block of Duntov Drive, about a quarter mile away from his home on Chesapeake Place in rural Arroyo Grande. Michael, who suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia, went missing yesterday at approximately 1:00 PM from his home. Deputies, Detectives, the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit, as well as additional resources from outside the county, along with drones and Search and Rescue K9's were involved in the search. Michael's wife has been notified that he has been found. Michael is being medically evaluated and is being transported to a local hospital for observation. The Sheriff's Office is grateful Michael was found safe and would like to recognize the tremendous efforts of our Search and Rescue volunteers, assisting agencies, and everyone who helped bring this search to a successful conclusion.

The Sheriff's Office has issued a press release regarding an at-risk missing person. On 10-26-2026, Deputies responded to an at-risk missing person report in the 1700 block of Chesapeake Place in rural Arroyo Grande. The missing person is identified as 86-year-old Michael Inglis of rural Arroyo Grande. He was last seen at that location at approximately 1:00 PM. Inglis is considered at-risk because he suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia. Inglis is a White, male adult, 6' 3" tall, 175 pounds, and is balding. He was last seen wearing a green plaid shirt, dark gray sweatpants, and slippers. The Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit is on scene and looking for Inglis. If you have information on his whereabouts, please contact the Sheriff's Office at 805-781-4550.

We had a great time hosting this year’s Central Coast Explorer Competition at Atascadero High School on Saturday! Teams from 12 agencies across California came together for a day of challenging scenarios, friendly competition, and teamwork. Events like this are about more than competition. They’re an opportunity to bring agencies and communities together, invest in the next generation, and support young people exploring a future in public service. A huge thank-you to all the teams who traveled to compete, our own Explorer Post for doing such a great job assisting with the event, and the many staff members and volunteers who gave their time to make this day possible. We’re proud to be part of a community that encourages young people to learn, grow, and find ways to serve others. Congratulations to all the Explorers who participated, and we hope to welcome everyone back next year!

Last week, we were honored to host the California Jail Programs Association (CJPA) Fall Conference here in San Luis Obispo County! The conference brought together professionals from across California to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and explore ways to improve programs and services within our jails. We were proud to have several of our own present, including Correctional Captain Mayes, Correctional Lieutenant Willey, Sergeant Slaughter, Correctional Sergeant Huskey, our CalAIM Reentry Team, and Jail Programs staff. Our CalAIM Reentry Team helps connect eligible individuals leaving custody with health care and supportive services to support their transition back into the community. Two individuals also courageously shared their lived experiences, offering valuable perspectives that remind us of the real people behind this work. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this opportunity to learn from one another, build collaboration, and continue moving this important work forward across California.

The work doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. 🌙 Our jail operates 24/7, with correctional deputies working around the clock to keep daily operations running and maintain a safe environment for everyone in our facility. Night shift is an important part of that work, even when most of the community never sees it.

Some calls take us off the beaten path. Our Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Team is trained to reach places traditional patrol vehicles can’t, from navigating rugged terrain to helping people stranded in hard-to-reach areas. They also train alongside our K9s and specialized teams, bringing unique capabilities to some of the toughest environments in the county.

🚲 Know a child who could use a bike this Christmas? Applications are OPEN for our 2026 Christmas Bicycle Program! 🎄 We’re helping get refurbished bikes to children ages 15 and younger in San Luis Obispo County, continuing a holiday tradition that’s been going strong since 1989. 📅 Apply by November 19 🚲 Bike pickup is December 9 Parents, caregivers, teachers, and local youth organizations, please help us spread the word! Share this with a family who could benefit or someone who works with local kids. 🔗 Application: slosheriff.org/wp-content/up…

Meet Madison Martinez, our Supervising Correctional Technician! Madison joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2022 as a Correctional Technician I and has continued to grow in her role, earning promotions to Correctional Technician II in 2024, Correctional Technician III in 2025, and Supervising Correctional Technician this August. In her current role, Madison supervises our custody support staff, helps coordinate booking operations, and works to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly. She also plays an important role in supporting and training the team. We’re excited to have Madison in this leadership role and are glad she’s part of our team. Congratulations, Madison!