Rural Deputy Program

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Rural Deputy Program is an effort to better serve Shasta County citizens residing in rural areas of the county. A total of eight deputies have been selected and assigned to different regions within the county as the official agency liaison for their respective region (click here to see the approximate area of responsibility map and the deputy assigned to that region).  The program is aimed at connecting rural communities with a consistent and familiar deputy that understands that communities’ unique and specific needs. 

The rural deputies are not full-time resident deputies and will not be held exclusively responsible for all law enforcement efforts in their respective region.  Each deputy will serve a minimum of 12 overtime hours per month in their region.  These deputies still have normal patrol duties throughout their regular work week.  Their commitment to serve as a rural deputy is above and beyond their normal patrol duties.  Again, it will be on an overtime basis.  Residents of these areas still must use traditional means to report non-emergency crimes, 530-245-6540, and call 911 for all emergency calls. The rural deputy assignment will ideally be a 2-3 year assignment but subject to individual circumstances (ie – promotion, specialty assignment, extended medical leave, etc).  The rural deputy is encouraged to attend community events, parades, and social events to develop relationships and contacts in their region.  They are afforded the opportunity to address crime trends and problems proactively and aggressively within the community. This may include, but is not limited to:  drug houses, traffic related problems, abatement issues, proactive patrol and enforcement, vagrant/squatters, etc.

The rural deputy program is being implemented as an alternative to the need for residential deputies.  Given the SCSO staffing shortages and manpower issues, this program will produce better community relations and better all-around law enforcement service to areas that are currently being underrepresented.

An additional component to this program is a commitment from the SCSO Command Staff.  The Sheriff, the Undersheriff, the Captains, and the Lieutenants of this agency will also participate.  Command Staff will spend a minimum of four hours in a particular region, quarterly on a rotational basis.  This exposure will help develop community relationships and a better understanding among supervisors and ultimately allow Command Staff to better support the needs of the deputy serving that region.