A Brief History
California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. At that time, San Diego County was established as the largest county in the state, covering 37,400 square miles – larger than Virginia. Alongside the county’s creation, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office (SDSO) was formed, with Agosthon Haraszthy, a former Hungarian “Count,” elected as the first Sheriff. In 1851, Sheriff Haraszthy built the first cobblestone jail in Old Town, the birthplace of California.
Over the years, the creation of new counties reduced San Diego County to its present size of 4,400 square miles, while the population grew from 791 people in 1850 to nearly 3.3 million today. The SDSO evolved from a small group of deputies into a major law enforcement agency with approximately 2,400 sworn deputies and nearly 1,800 professional staff members.
Today, the SDSO operates seven detention facilities, 18 patrol stations, a crime laboratory, and a range of support operations necessary to provide comprehensive law enforcement services throughout San Diego County. Serving 907,913 residents, including those in nine contract cities, the SDSO is responsible for booking and releasing arrestees, ensuring court appearances, and providing daily care for nearly 4,000 incarcerated individuals.
The SDSO also provides security for the third-largest trial court system in the nation and serves as the county’s enforcement agency for writs, warrants, and restraining orders.
Significant SDSO Milestones
1850
Agoston Haraszthy, a Hungarian nobleman, was elected as the first San Diego County Sheriff, as well as the tax collector and San Diego City Marshal. He built the first cobblestone jail in Old Town, though earlier attempts with mud brick and straw failed. The first inmate, Roy Bean (son of the City’s Mayor), famously escaped using a pocket knife smuggled inside a tamale. Bean later became known as Judge Roy Bean, the “Only Law West of the Pecos.”
1876
Joseph Coyne, originally arriving in Julian to hunt for gold, was elected Sheriff, becoming the first Republican to hold the office. He served three two-year terms and later became Chief of Police for San Diego in 1885. In 1893, he returned to the Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff under Ben Hill.
1882
Edward (“Ned”) Bushyhead, a Cherokee who walked the “Trail of Tears” as a child, moved to California in 1850 and became the “silent” publisher of the San Diego Union in 1868. He joined the Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy in 1875 and was elected Sheriff in 1882, serving two terms before becoming Chief of Police in San Diego.
1913
Under Sheriff Fred M. Jennings, the 18th Sheriff of San Diego County, Mrs. Olive Belle Chambers was appointed as a Deputy Sheriff, becoming the “first lady with a badge,” at a time when women were still not allowed to vote in U.S. elections.
1971
John F. Duffy, the 26th Sheriff of San Diego County, served five terms and played a pivotal role in modernizing the Sheriff’s Department. His significant achievements include reclassifying women from “jail matrons” to Deputy Sheriffs, establishing the Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Program, and developing the Emergency Planning Detail. Duffy is widely recognized for bringing the department into the 20th century and setting the foundation for its future growth and effectiveness.
1995
William Kolender, who started his career with the San Diego Police Department in 1956, became Chief in 1975 and introduced policies to increase diversity and equality. He also initiated the police canine program. After a brief period outside law enforcement, he returned as Sheriff in 1994, serving until 2009. He was nationally recognized as a pioneer in community-oriented policing and worked to integrate and partner the Sheriff’s Office with all other county law enforcement agencies.
2023
Sheriff Kelly Martinez was elected and took office in January 2023 as the 31st Sheriff of San Diego County, making history as the first female Sheriff.