The San Luis Obispo Police Department consists of 92 employees, 64 of which are sworn police officers. The Department is divided into two bureaus, with a Police Captain commanding each.

San Luis Obispo Police Department
1042 Walnut Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805.781.7317

Lobby Hours:
Monday 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Operations Bureau
The Operations Bureau consists of a Patrol Services Division, Traffic Safety Unit, Situation Oriented Response Team (SORT), and Neighborhood Services.

Patrol Services: provides 24-hour emergency and non-emergency response and service to the community and includes special assignments such as Field Training Officer, Downtown Officer, Crime Scene Investigator, SWAT, and others. Personnel within the patrol division work a modified 3/12 week. A typical Watch compliment will include a Lieutenant Watch Commander, Sergeant Field Supervisor, and several officers.

Traffic Safety Unit: provides motorcycle assignments and special traffic enforcement. The Traffic Safety Unit is comprised of five patrol officers supervised by a Sergeant. The unit is responsible for enforcing traffic laws, investigating traffic collisions, and other traffic safety duties as assigned.

Situation Oriented Response Team (SORT):  The SORT unit consists of three officers supervised by a Sergeant. SORT provides selective enforcement, and supplements the investigative and patrol units. SORT is involved in youth crime, alcohol violations, narcotics, and vice related investigations.

Neighborhood Services: The Neighborhood Services Manager coordinates the response of City departments to neighborhood issues. In addition, SNAP, Neighborhood Enhancement Ordinance enforcement, Crime Prevention, Working to Improve Neighborhoods (WIN), and various other programs originate from this office.

Administrative Services Bureau
The Administrative Services Bureau consists of Administrative Services Division, Investigative Division, Communications Division, and Records Unit.

Administrative Services Division: The Administrative Services Division consists of a Lieutenant and Sergeant who are responsible for programs administration, internal affairs investigation, civil and permit investigation, training, and special projects.

Investigative Division: The Investigative Division is supervised by a Lieutenant and includes two detectives working property crimes (burglary, grand theft, fraud etc.) and three detectives working crimes against persons (robbery, assault, rape, murder). Also working out of the Investigative division are a School Resource Officer (assigned to the high school and middle school) and the “D.A.R.E.” officer (assigned to the elementary schools). In addition, one detective is assigned to the county-wide Narcotics Task Force unit.

Communications Division: Communications dispatchers receive incoming telephone calls for service, including 911 calls. Police dispatchers are also responsible for dispatching fire department personnel and applying emergency medical dispatch techniques. The dispatch staffing consists of 11 Communication Technicians managed by 2 Communications Supervisors , answering directly to the Communications manager.

Records Unit: Records clerks are responsible for processing and maintaining the large amount of documentation generated by all divisions within the department. Their work includes meeting state crime reporting standards and preparing court paperwork to the District Attorney's office. The records unit consists of 4.5 records clerks and a records unit supervisor.

Employment with the Police Department

The City of San Luis Obispo only accepts applications for positions which are currently vacant. For information on current employment opportunities, please visit the Department of Human Resources website or by phone you may contact the City of San Luis Obispo Job Hot Line at 805.781.7153. This is a 24-hour recording of current employment opportunities.