By Ian Parkinson
SLO County Sheriff
I’ll start this column the same way I always begin the first one of the year. By wishing everyone a happy, safe, and prosperous 2026! And as we close out another year, I’m reminded of something that holds true every year in public safety. We don’t get to choose the challenges that come our way, but we do choose how we meet them. This past year brought moments of danger, loss, resilience, and accomplishment. Through it all, your Sheriff’s Office remained committed to protecting and serving every community in San Luis Obispo County with professionalism, compassion, and resolve. And with that, I present to you my eighth annual State of the Sheriff’s Office.
On January 29, that commitment was tested when deputies responded to reports of shots heard near Templeton High School. During the investigation, detectives determined the suspect opened fire on the first arriving patrol unit, striking the vehicle multiple times. Fortunately, neither of the deputies inside was injured. Seconds later, a second patrol unit arrived and one of our deputies engaged with the suspect, who was struck by gunfire. Deputies immediately rendered medical aid until paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he remained in stable condition. The suspect was later booked on two counts of attempted murder. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers deputies face every day.
Shortly after, on April 3, our detectives brought an end to a sophisticated auto-theft scam operating throughout California. When deputies stopped a vehicle carrying three individuals, they found something else. Inside the vehicle, detectives discovered oil containers consistent with the “Oil in the Engine” scam. A scheme in which scammers secretly pour oil onto a seller’s engine during a test drive, causing smoke and panic in order to purchase the vehicle at a drastically reduced price. Between November 2024 and March 2025, we identified more than 20 victims in San Luis Obispo County, with losses nearing $60,000. This case highlighted both the importance of community reporting and the dedication of our investigators, who disrupted a criminal operation linked to Romanian nationals working across the state.
Our deputies also responded to a tragic deputy-involved shooting in Los Osos on July 2, following a report of suspicious circumstances and concerns for a woman’s safety. Deputies arriving on scene, located the male subject, a 40-year-old from Chowchilla, who presented a handgun as they made contact. Both deputies discharged their service weapons, and the subject was struck. Despite immediate radio calls for medical assistance and lifesaving efforts from deputies, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. No deputies were injured. Incidents like this are heart-wrenching for everyone involved, and our office remains committed to thorough investigations, transparency, and support for both the community and our personnel.
Two weeks later, we assisted Templeton Fire in identifying four boys connected to the Templeton Feed and Grain fire on South Main Street on July 4. One of the juveniles was determined to have started the fire. Our findings were turned over to Templeton Fire and the District Attorney’s Office for review of potential arson charges.
One of the most emotionally challenging case of the year was the disappearance of Isabel Lucas Velasco of Coalinga. After she was reported missing on September 13, our Detective Division worked relentlessly, ultimately coordinating a large-scale search effort alongside Fresno County. On October 11, a body believed to be Isabel was located along Highway 198. The case was ruled a homicide, resulting in the arrests of a man and his brother. Our hearts remain with Isabel’s family, and I could not be more proud of the unwavering effort from everyone who worked on that case.
Finally, 2025 saw the opening of the new Public Safety Communications Center — a major milestone for our county and the future of emergency response. This 20,000-square-foot facility brings together the Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire/SLO County Fire under one roof, replacing two aging dispatch centers that had long outgrown their capacity. The center will serve as the central hub for 911 and emergency communications, equipped with a 140-foot communications tower, advanced dispatch technology, and expanded room for future growth. Together, these improvements greatly enhance how we coordinate responses to emergencies of every scale.
I’ll close this year’s column the same way I did last year, because the message still matters. I’m grateful for the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who work every day to protect our county, and I’m grateful for you, our community, for helping make San Luis Obispo County a place we’re proud to call home. Here’s to the year ahead. Be good. And be good to one another.
