Local Law Enforcement FAQs

Effect of Annexation on Local Law Enforcement

QUESTION: Is there any difference in the law enforcement between the County and the City?

Yes. The City typically has 17 patrol cars serving its approximately 52 square miles of jurisdiction. The County has 5 vehicles serving nearly 500 square miles.

QUESTION: Aren’t city sheriff’s department vehicles available to serve Stonecrest?

No, not without expressed city permission and then only in a dire emergency such as a major earthquake, hostage situation, or fire.

Routine patrols are far more frequent in the City and routine responses to calls are far more rapid in the City than they are in the County.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has repeatedly stated that the law enforcement services provided to cities through his department are much more extensive than the law enforcement services provided to the unincorporated sections of Los Angeles County.

On the Signal/Comcast “Newsmaker of the Week” television program, Sheriff Baca was asked directly whether he would recommend annexation into the City of Santa Clarita in order to obtain the best level of law enforcement service.

Sheriff Baca plainly stated he would recommend that all Los Angeles County residents get into the nearest city as soon as possible to obtain the safest law enforcement possible.

Copies of this television broadcast are still available for viewing. Written transcripts of the interview are also still available from The Signal Newspaper.

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