Which number should I call for non-emergency assistance?
For non-emergency law enforcement assistance from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, call 858-868-3200. This is the non-emergency dispatch number listed on the official Sheriff’s Office Contact Us page. For an emergency, call 911. The administrative front desk at 858-974-2222 is a separate contact for general business inquiries.
Choose dispatch for non-emergency law enforcement help
Use non-emergency dispatch when you need to report a law enforcement concern that does not require an immediate emergency response. Explain what happened and whether the situation is still occurring so the dispatcher can assess your request.
The Sheriff’s Office does not provide primary police services at every address in San Diego County. Give the incident location when calling. For help checking which agency serves an address, see whether the Sheriff’s Office provides police services at your address.
Have the location and incident details ready
Be prepared to provide:
- The incident address or a clear location, including nearby cross streets or landmarks.
- What happened and when.
- Whether anyone is injured, threatened or in immediate danger.
- Relevant descriptions of people or vehicles, if known.
- A callback number and any existing incident or report number.
Answer the dispatcher’s questions and follow their instructions. If there is an emergency requiring immediate police, fire or medical assistance, call 911.
Use the appropriate office for other services
For general administrative questions, call 858-974-2222. To contact a particular patrol station, jail or civil office, use the official Sheriff’s Office facility directory and check the office’s service information.
Requests for an existing crime, arrest or accident report follow the report-copy request process. Questions about serving court papers, evictions, levies or wage garnishments should go to the Civil Division through Court Services.
Use telephone dispatch to report an incident
The Sheriff’s Office states that its website is not monitored around the clock and that email correspondence is not monitored in real time or intended to document crimes. Use dispatch to report a non-emergency law enforcement concern and 911 for emergencies.