Imperial County Sheriff's Office

What Imperial County Sheriff's Office does

The Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) is the statutory Sheriff-Coroner-Marshal agency for Imperial County, California — the 10th largest of California's 58 counties — providing comprehensive public safety services from a headquarters at 328 Applestill Road in El Centro, with operational substations in Brawley, Holtville, Winterhaven, Palo Verde, Salton City, and Niland. The agency operates across four principal service lines: (1) patrol and criminal investigations covering homicide, sexual assault, ICAC/internet crimes, drug trafficking via the HIDTA task force with DEA, and specialized tactical response through S.E.R.T./S.W.A.T.; (2) coroner/medicolegal death investigation including forensic services from the civilian-staffed Scientific Investigations Unit (DNA, fingerprint, shoe/tire impression analysis); (3) corrections across three jail facilities totaling 876 beds (HHCC 314, OFDF 274, RADF 288) housing county and federal prisoners with educational, vocational, and reentry programming; and (4) support services including 24/7 dispatch handling 99,000+ annual calls, court security with twelve bailiffs, records management, civil process service, and Live Scan fingerprinting. The agency maintains unusually deep specialized capabilities including the six-diver ICSURT underwater recovery team, B.E.S.T. boating enforcement covering 83 square miles of waterways (Colorado River, Salton Sea, lakes), O.H.V.E.S.T. off-highway vehicle enforcement over 159,072 acres, K-9 contraband detection, Mounted Posse (since 1938), Aero Squadron, De Anza search and rescue (since 1969), and a Sheriff's Cadet Explorer Post.

Revenue is sourced primarily from County of Imperial general fund appropriations, supplemented by state grants (California Boating and Waterways, OHV Green Sticker, AB 481 military equipment oversight), federal grants (HIDTA/DEA), contracted municipal police services (City of Holtville since January 2010), federal prisoner per diem, and modest transactional fees for records, reports, vehicle release, Live Scan, and civil services. As a constitutionally established office, the Sheriff is an elected position — currently Fred Miramontes, sworn in January 2023 after serving as Undersheriff since July 2007 — and the agency's go-to-market is service delivery rather than commercial selling, with community engagement conducted through school presentations, Neighborhood Watch, National Night Out, and the Sheriff's Activities League youth programs.

Name

Imperial County Sheriff's Office

Legal name

Imperial County Sheriff's Office

Website

https://icso.imperialcounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Imperial County Sheriff's Office is the elected county-level law enforcement, coroner, and corrections agency serving Imperial County, California, operating three jail facilities totaling 876 beds, patrol and investigations divisions, coroner services, and contracted municipal policing for the City of Holtville.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Police Protection (922120), Correctional Institutions (922140), Courts (922110)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Police Services (Patrol, Response & Community Policing) (BPAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Law enforcement services
• Corrections and detention
• Coroner investigations
• Civil process services
• Emergency dispatch operations

Headquarters

HQ city

El Centro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Imperial County Sheriff's Office is a county-level government law enforcement agency delivering integrated public safety services across Imperial County, California. Core offerings include patrol and emergency response (24/7 dispatch handling 99,000+ annual calls), criminal investigations, medicolegal coroner death investigations, court security and bailiff services, records management, civil process service, and corrections/detention operations across three jail facilities totaling 876 beds. Specialized units include S.E.R.T./S.W.A.T., OHV enforcement, boating safety, underwater recovery, K-9, and HIDTA drug task force.

Product overview

The Imperial County Sheriff's Office operates a comprehensive public safety agency consisting of three jail facilities (Herbert Hughes Correctional Center with 314 beds, Oren R. Fox Medium Security Detention Facility with 274 beds, and Regional Adult Detention Facility with 288 beds) totaling 876 beds, patrol and investigations divisions, coroner services, and specialized units including S.E.R.T., O.H.V.E.S.T., B.E.S.T., and Underwater Recovery Team. The agency provides contracted police services to the City of Holtville and operates volunteer units including Mounted Posse, Aero Squadron, Cadet Post, and Reserve Deputy Program. Support services include 24/7 Dispatch, Court Services, Records Division, and Civil Division handling service of process and writs. Community engagement programs include Crime Prevention Unit, Sheriff's Activities League (S.A.L.) youth programs, and various volunteer services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patrol Services First responder law enforcement services covering North County, South County, East County, and City of Holtville with jurisdiction over crimes, traffic control, and community policing for Imperial County residents and visitors.
• Investigations Division Specialized investigative unit handling homicides, officer-involved shootings, sexual assaults, kidnappings, burglaries, robberies, fraud, identity theft, Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) cases, and HIDTA drug trafficking investigations in partnership with DEA.
• Coroner Division Medicolegal death investigation unit responsible for determining identity, cause of death, manner of death, and handling of decedents falling under coroner jurisdiction in Imperial County. Services provided free of charge for transportation, autopsy, and investigation.
• Scientific Investigations Unit (SIU) Civilian-staffed forensic unit providing crime scene investigation, DNA collection, fingerprint and palm print identification, and shoe and tire impression analysis to support criminal investigations.
• County Jail and Corrections Operations Combined incarceration services across three facilities totaling 876 beds: Herbert Hughes Correctional Center (314 dormitory-style beds), Oren R. Fox Medium Security Detention Facility (274 beds in six two-tiered units), and Regional Adult Detention Facility (288 beds in twelve two-tier modules). Houses male and female, sentenced and non-sentenced county inmates plus federal prisoners under US Marshals housing agreements. Includes inmate programs (GED, ESL, AA/NA, anger management, culinary), the Inside/Out College Program, K-9 unit, and transportation unit with 2 buses and 7 vans.
• Court Services Division Security and law enforcement services for Imperial County Superior Courts including bailiff duties, courtroom security, and entry screening. Twelve full-time bailiffs supervised by a Sergeant serve as officers of the court.
• Communications/Dispatch Center 24/7 public safety communications center handling over 99,000 annual telephone calls including 23,000 emergency 911 calls. Coordinates patrol units and specialized teams. Also provides after-hours coverage for Imperial County Fire Department and Emergency Medical Airship Services.
• Records Division Repository for arrest and booking records, county-wide warrants, and restraining orders. Provides crime reports ($22.00/copy), local clearance letters ($65.00), criminal history checks, vehicle releases ($100), Live Scan services ($40 plus DOJ/FBI fees), ticket sign-offs ($17.00), and concealed weapons permits via online application.
• Civil Division Service of process and execution of writs including summons, complaints, restraining orders, bank levies, wage garnishments, and Sheriff's sales for civil court matters.
• Holtville Contract Police Services Full-time police services for the City of Holtville provided under contract since January 2010, including traffic enforcement, DUI handling, animal control coordination, and community policing. Deputies supervised by a Sergeant serving as Police Chief.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99,000+ annual telephone calls handled by dispatch, including 23,000 emergency 911 calls
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial County is designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Sheriff's Office has deputies attached to task forces working with DEA to target high-level drug dealers and street-level sales. Narcotic Investigators focus on drug sale, possession, distribution and property seizures.
• United States Border Patrol (USBORSTAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Task Force Officer assigned from US Border Patrol to Investigations Division. USBP BORSTAR divers work with Underwater Recovery Team (ICSURT).
• Imperial Irrigation District Dive TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICSURT works closely with Imperial Irrigation District Dive Team for underwater searches and recoveries in canals, lakes, and rivers.
• California Division of Boating and WaterwayscoreOthersB.E.S.T. (Boating Enforcement Safety Team) is funded through California Boating and Waterways Grant. Provides law enforcement services to waterways including Salton Sea, Colorado River, and multiple lakes.
• California OHV Grants ProgramcoreOthersO.H.V.E.S.T. (Off Highway Vehicle Enforcement Safety Team) is funded through California OHV Grants and California OHV Green Sticker funds. Provides safety, security and education in OHV recreational areas including Imperial San Dunes Recreational Area (159,072 acres).
• LifeSharing Organ & Tissue DonationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organ and tissue procurement organization. Coroner's Office collaborates to approve donations in cases under coroner jurisdiction. Approves vast majority of donation requests.
• San Diego Eye BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrgan and tissue procurement organization working with Coroner's Office for donation approvals in Imperial County deaths under coroner jurisdiction.
• Save A Life AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrgan and tissue procurement organization partnering with Coroner's Office for donation coordination in Imperial County.
• Imperial County Superior CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt Services Division provides professional law enforcement and security services for all court facilities. Twelve full-time bailiffs supervised by Sergeant serve as officers of the court.
• First 5 Imperial County Children and Families First CommissionminorOthersSheriff Miramontes serves as Commissioner. Advisory committee involvement with Imperial Valley Children's Committee.
• Imperial County Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDispatch provides after-hours coverage for Imperial County Fire Department and Emergency Medical Airship Services.
• San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestigations Division is a member of San Diego ICAC Task Force. Two Investigators responsible for sex registrant tracking within Imperial County.
• California State Sheriffs' AssociationminorOthersSheriff Miramontes is member since 2023. Professional organization for California sheriffs.
• Southwestern Border Sheriffs' CoalitionminorOthersSheriff Miramontes is member since 2023. Regional coalition of sheriffs along US-Mexico border.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CoreCivic: Private corrections operator providing federal and state inmate housing under contract. Comparable on the corrections side of ICSO's operations (HHCC, OFDF, RADF) and relevant to understanding commercial benchmarks for jail bed economics.
• GEO Group: Private corrections and federal detention operator with significant federal prisoner housing contracts. Provides a commercial reference for the federal-prisoner-housing revenue model that ICSO leverages in its 876-bed facilities.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: Largest sheriff's department in the United States, providing a broad incumbent reference point for California county sheriff operations including custody, court services, and specialized enforcement. Significantly larger scale but shared statutory framework.
• California Highway Patrol: State-level law enforcement agency from which the current Sheriff (Miramontes) retired as a Commander. Provides state-level context for motor patrol, traffic enforcement, and interagency task force operations comparable to ICSO's patrol and dispatch functions.

Direct peers

• San Diego County Sheriff's Office: Parent county of Imperial before 1907 partition. Direct operational peer with comparable border enforcement role, large jail network, and specialized units. Shares HIDTA-related task force and ICAC task force participation.
• Kern County Sheriff's Office: Similar-scale California county sheriff's office with rural-urban mix, OHV and outdoor recreation enforcement needs, and substantial jail operations. Provides a peer comparable in size, geography, and operational scope.
• Riverside County Sheriff's Office: Adjacent inland Southern California sheriff's office with similar rural-urban mix, multiple jail facilities, coroner duties, and significant federal task force participation. Direct operational peer along California's southeastern corridor.
• San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department: Large California county sheriff's department with comparable integrated Sheriff-Coroner-Marshal structure, corrections operations, and border-region enforcement duties. Operates with similar combined-jail infrastructure and offers the closest operational and geographic analogue.

Others

• U.S. Marshals Service: Federal agency that contracts with county jails (including ICSO) for federal prisoner housing. Key customer/partner rather than a competitor, but operationally comparable on prisoner transport, court security, and fugitive enforcement functions that overlap with ICSO's Civil Division and Court Services.
• U.S. Border Patrol (USBP): Federal partner agency operating along the U.S.-Mexico border in Imperial County. Provides operational reference for border-region enforcement, USBORSTAR dive partnership, and HIDTA task force coordination that shapes ICSO's drug enforcement mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100090486962757
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imperial-county-sheriff-s-office

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imperial County Sheriff's Office