February 1, 2026 – Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in 2025, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office recorded 18 homicides, the lowest number in 55 years. That carries even more weight when you look at the full context. In 1970, our county’s population was about 631,000, whereas today, it is more than 1.6 million. More people, more activity, more challenges, yet fewer homicides than at any point in modern history.
Progress like this does not happen by accident. It happens because of deliberate, disciplined, proactive police work, carried out day after day by Deputies and Detectives who understand the mission. Our Patrol Deputies are the backbone of this success. They make proactive stops, answer the hardest calls, and intervene early, before conflicts turn into shootings.
A significant share of this success belongs to our Gang Unit, which remains one of the few standalone gang units still operating in California. While these units can be “politically unpopular” in some circles, the reality is that violence is not abstract to the communities affected by it. Dedicated gang enforcement allows us to focus on the small number of individuals responsible for a disproportionate share of violent crime, using intelligence, experience, and precision.
In 2025 alone, our Gang Unit seized 382 firearms through targeted enforcement, intelligence-driven investigations, and sustained pressure on violent offenders. Maintaining a standalone gang unit is not always easy, but I am committed to keeping this unit strong and thriving because the results speak for themselves. When this work is paired with proactive patrol operations, the outcome is clear: fewer shootings, fewer victims, and safer neighborhoods. That is not theory. That is what the numbers show.
This approach is not new; I did not reinvent policing. This approach is time tested and effective, and emphasizes accountability, visibility, and consequences for those who choose crime. The results speak for themselves.
Source: Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office