The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department announced on April 3 that its Community Service & Reentry Division’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (HOPE), together with the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station Multiple Enforcement Team, conducted an outreach operation called “Operation Shelter Me” in the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
The operation aimed to connect staff with unhoused residents, offering housing, medical, and mental health treatment services while also addressing community safety concerns. This effort follows the passage of Proposition 36 by California voters on November 5, which took effect December 18 and introduced new laws affecting homelessness, drug addiction, and theft. These changes allow deputies to apply enhanced sentencing for certain offenses and prevent offenders from being cited and released before a court appearance.
During the operation, approximately 85 individuals experiencing homelessness were contacted. Thirty accepted referrals to assistance programs. One missing person from Upland was found safe and reunited with family. Arrests included five individuals for misdemeanor warrants; three for possession of a controlled substance; three for possession of drug paraphernalia; four for trespassing; two for public intoxication; and one individual for possession of stolen property and identity theft who was released to medical personnel due to a life-threatening emergency.
Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus said ongoing operations will continue throughout the county over the next year using special “Community Concerns” funding approved by the Board of Supervisors: “This funding allows us to address topics such as homelessness, mental illness, and community safety.” All arrested subjects are contacted in jail by the Sheriff’s Transitional Assistance Reentry Team (START) to offer additional resources.
Shannon D. Dicus serves as sheriff-coroner at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department according to the official website. The department serves more than 2.1 million residents through collaborative law enforcement services across its 15 patrol stations according to its official website. Facilities include a dispatch center handling numerous service calls as well as a historical society museum preserving departmental heritage according to its official website.
