San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office

06/12/2026

What a week! ☀️🚔 This week we hosted our first Sheriff's Youth Summer Camp of the season at Mesa Middle School, and our south county campers had an incredible time!

Throughout the week, campers made new friends, built relationships with our School Resource Deputies, Crime Prevention Team, and volunteers, and learned about a variety of public safety topics through hands-on activities and presentations.

They explored drones with our UAS Team, learned about online safety, met with CAL FIRE, discovered the dangers of va**ng through the County Public Health To***co Control Program, practiced CPR and first aid with members of Search and Rescue, participated in activities with Friday Night Live, and learned about fingerprints and forensics from our Crime Lab.

Campers also enjoyed visits from Zoo to You, our K9 Unit, County Library, and numerous Sheriff's Office specialty units and partner agencies during Public Service Day.

Of course, there were also bounce houses, pizza, snow cones, games, and plenty of fun along the way!

A huge thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, partner agencies, and presenters who helped make this week such a success. We had a fantastic time and can't wait to do it all again next week in Templeton!

06/12/2026

The Sheriff's Office has issued a press release regarding the arrest of a burglary suspect.

On 6-10-2026, Detectives with the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit arrested 27-year-old Ryan Coats on four felony burglary charges and one count of attempted burglary.
The investigation identified a series of commercial burglaries that began in April 2026 and occurred at multiple locations throughout the county, including Cambria, Cayucos, San Simeon, and Templeton. Businesses impacted by these crimes include the San Simeon Post Office, Artifacts Gallery, McLean Jewelry, and Upscale Resale.
Detectives served search warrants at a location in Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. At that time evidence was recovered and connected to several burglaries. At the time of his arrest, Coats was found in possession of stolen property connected to a commercial burglary that had occurred earlier that same day in San Luis Obispo. Detectives also believe that Coats is associated with numerous burglaries outside of San Luis Obispo County.
Investigators also determined that Coats was out on bail related to a separate burglary investigation being conducted by the Morro Bay Police Department at the time of his arrest.
Coats has an extensive criminal history that includes felony convictions in Santa Barbara County for possession of a stolen vehicle in 2019, assault with a deadly weapon in 2020, and grand theft in 2022.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office Detective Division at (805) 781-4500.

06/11/2026

Today, we celebrated the graduation of Class 131 from the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy!

Before the graduation ceremony, Ian Parkinson, Sheriff swore in our five newest deputies during a special ceremony attended by their families, loved ones, and members of the Sheriff’s Office team. Following the swearing-in, the deputies joined their fellow graduates for the academy graduation ceremony, where Sheriff Parkinson had the honor of presenting their certificates.

We are proud to welcome these five new deputies to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office as they begin the next step of their journey with field training. Please join us in welcoming them!

During the ceremony, Deputy Carlos Rodriguez was honored with the Cops 'N Kids Scholarship Award. Congratulations, Deputy Rodriguez!

We are incredibly proud of these gentlemen and all of their fellow graduates who have chosen a career of service to the Central Coast.

Congratulations, Class 131! 🎓🚔

06/06/2026

📢 Public Meeting Notice: AB 481 Annual Report

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office will host a public meeting to discuss our AB 481 Annual Report, recently approved by the Board of Supervisors. Community members are invited to attend, learn more about the report, and ask questions.

📅 June 16, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 Sheriff’s Office Headquarters – Lowgren Auditorium 1585 Kansas Ave., San Luis Obispo

💻 A virtual attendance option is also available.

View the report, meeting details, and virtual access information at: https://www.slosheriff.org/public-notices/

Staff will be available to answer questions both in person and online. We hope to see you there.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office will hold a public meeting regarding its Annual AB 481 Military Equipment Report. This meeting is intended to provide information to the public, discuss the report, and allow for community engagement and feedback regarding the Sheriff’s Office military...

06/05/2026

The Sheriff's Office has issued a press release regarding a barricaded subject in rural San Luis Obispo.

On 6-5-2026, members of the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (SED) served a search warrant in the 4700 block of Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo for a subject who had a felony arrest warrant.
The subject was identified as 43-year-old Benjamin Reynoso who was wanted for felony vandalism, violating a domestic violence restraining order and obstruction of justice. All of these crimes stem from a prior incident which had occurred the week before. Reynoso also made prior statements threatening law enforcement as well as residents in the area.
When the SED team arrived on scene, Reynoso refused to exit his residence despite numerous announcements. No one else was inside the home at the time. Members of the Sheriff's Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) attempted to contact Reynoso but to no avail. Reynoso refused to come out and made threats to Sheriff's personnel who were on scene.
Several methods including chemical agents were used to get Reynoso out of the home. After approximately two hours, Reynoso exited the home and was taken into custody without incident. During a search of his home, Detectives discovered several homemade incendiary devices.
The San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT team was also involved in this incident by providing a specialized vehicle to help in the apprehension of Reynoso.

06/02/2026

This morning, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors presented two resolutions recognizing the men and women of the Sheriff's Office.

The first recognized National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. While the observance took place in May, we are grateful for the Board's recognition of the dedicated professionals who serve in our Custody Division. Sheriff Ian Parkinson and Captain Stephanie Landgraf spoke about the incredible work that happens behind custody doors every day, often out of the public eye. They highlighted how our County Jail operates much like a small city, caring for individuals with complex medical and mental health needs, providing education and treatment programs, serving more than 1,500 meals each day, and safely managing incarcerated individuals ranging from low-level offenders to violent criminals.

The second resolution recognized National Peace Officers Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Sheriff Parkinson spoke about the daily service and commitment demonstrated by our patrol deputies, detectives, support staff, and peace officers throughout the county. He also reflected on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, including San Luis Obispo Police Detective Luca Benedetti, and the importance of supporting the families, friends, and colleagues left behind while honoring the memory of those taken too soon.

Thank you to the Board of Supervisors for recognizing the work, sacrifice, and dedication of those who serve our community every day. 💙

06/02/2026

We had a great time tonight participating in the San Luis Obispo County leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Southern California! 🔥🏃

Law enforcement agencies from across the county came together to raise awareness and support for our local Special Olympics athletes. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising movement for Special Olympics, with thousands of officers championing inclusion and acceptance throughout the year.

We’re proud to support these incredible athletes and help carry the Flame of Hope. 💙💛

05/31/2026

From the beaches to the backroads, our K9 teams are always ready when called. 🐾🚔🌊

05/29/2026

Most people will never see the Bomb Task Force in action, and that’s kind of the point. 💣🚔

The San Luis Obispo County Bomb Task Force is FBI-accredited and certified as a fully operational bomb squad, trained to safely handle improvised explosive devices, military ordnance, and commercial explosives throughout SLO County and beyond on mutual aid requests.

Highly trained. Highly specialized. Ready when needed.

05/25/2026

Sheriff Parkinson has issued a statement on the 30th anniversary today on the disappearance of Kristin Smart.

Thirty years ago, Kristin Smart vanished without a trace, forever changing the lives of her family, her friends, and a community that has never stopped searching for answers.

Today, we remember Kristin. A young woman whose life was stolen far too soon, but whose memory has never faded. For three decades, her family has carried the unimaginable weight of not knowing where she is, while our community has continued to hold onto hope that one day she will finally be brought home.

Over the past thirty years, countless investigators, detectives, prosecutors, and community members remained committed to seeking justice in this case. That commitment ultimately resulted in the conviction of Paul Flores in 2022 for Kristin’s murder. While that conviction marked an important step toward justice, it did not bring this case to an end.

As I said following the verdict in 2022, there is no true justice until Kristin is reunited with her family. That remains our mission today. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to pursue leads, conduct searches, and follow every path that could help us find Kristin. We will not stop searching for her, and we will not allow her to be forgotten.

Kristin was more than a headline or a case that captured national attention. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a young woman with her entire future ahead of her. Thirty years later, she is still deeply missed.

To the Smart family: we continue to stand with you. And to our community: thank you for never giving up on Kristin. Our commitment remains unwavering. Until Kristin is brought home, this mission is not over.

-Sheriff Ian Parkinson