A New Beginning

The San Diego Sheriff’s Museum aims to collect, preserve, and showcase artifacts that tell the story of the SDSO’s history and its vital role in the community. Our exhibits will be designed to educate and inspire visitors of all ages, offering interactive and imaginative experiences that bring the past to life. Beyond the exhibits, the museum will foster civic pride by engaging with local stakeholders, employing professional staff, and recruiting dedicated volunteers passionate about preserving this important legacy.

In 1981, retired Deputy Sheriff Don Van Hooser began collecting historical memorabilia under Sheriff John Duffy.  For a while the artifacts of the museum were housed at the Sheriff’s Communication Center, and later they were moved to the Santee substation.  Without Don Van Hooser’s actions, much of the Sheriff’s historical information could have been lost.

Spearheaded by Mary Walsh and supported by the San Diego County Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Association (SDCHDSA), a building at 2384 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, in Old Town, was acquired to hold the growing Sheriff’s historical collections.  This building sits adjacent to the site of the County’s first jail, built by the first Sheriff of San Diego County, Agoston Haraszthy.

In the year 2000, under Sheriff Bill Kolender, the collections were moved into the “William B. Kolender Sheriff’s Museum”.

The collection was expanded and the museum continued to grow until the COVID pandemic resulted in the Museum’s closure.

The impact of the COVID pandemic hit many museums.  The Sheriff’s Museum was shuttered during the pandemic, and in 2022, the SDCHDSA Board decided to permanently close the museum and sell the building, which had appreciated significantly in value.

Despite our organization’s efforts to reopen the museum in the existing location, the SDCHDSA moved forward with the closing and sale of the building.

The Sheriff’s memorabilia was returned to the Sheriff’s Office.  Some items were distributed to Sheriff’s Stations for display, and the rest placed into storage at the Sheriff’s Headquarters.  All items are being preserved and can be restored to the new museum when it opens.

As we work towards opening the museum, our focus is on finding a suitable venue that will serve as the new home for the San Diego Sheriff’s Museum. We are also actively securing funding to support both the acquisition of this new space and its long-term operations. Our vision is to create a space where history is preserved, stories are told, and the community can engage with the legacy of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.

This journey to opening is driven by our commitment to honoring the past while building a bright future for the museum and the community it serves.