SANTA ANA, Ca. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), is refining its crisis call diversion program to better serve those experiencing behavioral health disorders.
In March 2024, Sheriff’s Department dispatchers began triaging non-violent and non-criminal behavioral health calls for service and diverting to OC Links as appropriate. The 24-hour, 7 days a week Behavioral Health Line is an entry point for the HCA’s continuum of care providing information, referral, linkage, screening, linkage to homeless outreach resources, and dispatching of mobile crisis response teams. To date, approximately 240 calls have been diverted to OC Links, connecting those in crisis with appropriate behavioral health services and field outreach.
As the crisis call diversion program has developed, the need to expand the system has emerged. Under the expanded program, certain behavioral health related 9-1-1 calls will be diverted to a licensed clinician instead of dispatching deputies. With this expanded approach, any call determined to be behavioral health-related with no violation of law or threat to public safety will no longer receive a deputy response. This ensures that people in crisis receive immediate, compassionate and expert care from professionals and that deputies remain available for calls involving safety risks or criminal activity.
“Individuals in crisis who pose no threat to the community do not need law enforcement coming to their door. They need trained behavioral health clinicians who are better equipped to get them help,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “It’s important for our community to keep deputies focused on public safety and available for emergency calls.”
“Strengthening crisis response is essential to protecting both the community and individuals experiencing mental health challenges,” stated Chair Doug Chaffee, 4th District. “This refined approach ensures that people receive the right care at the right time.”

When the behavioral health crisis diversion program began, the HCA simultaneously promoted it’s “First Responders for Mental Health Campaign” to promote OC Links as a dedicated resources for behavioral health emergencies including the crisis line, mobile crisis unit and warm line support. This campaign continues promoting essential information on recognizing behavioral health crises and accessing appropriate services.

“Expanding clinician-led responses helps ensure residents experiencing a mental health crisis receive medical care and urgent treatment,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley, 5th District. “This partnership connects residents with the professionals best equipped to support them, while allowing our deputies to focus on crime prevention and emergencies that require a law enforcement response.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department receives about 10,000 calls for service each year involving mental health. OC Links remains a critical component in caring for the health, safety and well-being of those experiencing crisis. In calendar year 2025, the HCA received more than 43,789 calls and chats to their OC Links line and dispatched more than 10,862 mobile clinical responses.
“I’m proud that this enhanced diversion system will help and support many people in my district,” stated Supervisor Janet Nguyen, 1st District. “By uniting public safety and behavioral health expertise, the County is ensuring that individuals receive the care they need most.”

Calls either diverted by 911 operators or are made directly to OC Links, are answered 24/7/365 by OC Links Navigators who are licensed clinicians and trained behavioral health professionals. These specialists can assist individuals or a loved one at any stage of need – whether you’re seeking information, prevention resources, treatment options, direct referrals to behavioral health programs or urgent behavioral health support. OC Links navigators connect callers with appropriate resources or dispatch a mobile crisis response team when necessary.

“Police departments should not be the sole responders to mental health crisis calls, but too often officers can be placed in these situations and may not be equipped to safely resolve them alone,” said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, 2nd District. “I have consistently advocated for models that pair licensed mental health clinicians with law enforcement. Sadly, in recent months, we have seen multiple tragedies during responses to crisis calls and I believe this approach is an excellent solution to de-escalation, appropriate care, and potentially saving lives.”

The presence of uniforms or sirens can potentially heighten anxiety or fear, especially for those experiencing behavioral health issues. Having clinicians respond can reduce the chance of the situation escalating and Individuals are more likely to follow up with care and when their initial crisis encounter is supportive.

“This partnership between the Sheriff’s Department and the OC Health Care Agency demonstrates how coordinated, cross agency collaboration leads to better outcomes for residents in crisis,” said Supervisor Don Wagner, 3rd District.
“A mental health condition is a medical issue, not a criminal one, and people deserve understanding and care when they are struggling,” said Dr. Veronica Kelley, HCA Director and Interim Behavioral Health Services Director. “By recognizing the signs of crisis and connecting individuals to the right support, we can help ensure safety, dignity and healing for everyone involved.”
In addition to OC Links, the Sheriff’s Department continues to deploy its Behavioral Health Bureau teams in partnership with HCA’s Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT), responsible for proactively contacting and supporting those experiencing behavioral health crises and homelessness in the community, and connecting individuals with resources including housing programs, counseling services, and other support services.

The public can access OC Links directly 24/7 by calling (855) 625-4657 or (855) OC Links.
                                                                                            ###

About the OC Health Care Agency The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Jul. 23, 2026) – On July 25, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will visit the Lake Mission Viejo Concert event to educate patrons on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Lake Mission Viejo Concert event.

The “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and is an interactive way to show how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle. Officers will ask patrons how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will then invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Patrons are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08%. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5% alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01% for every 40 minutes between drinks.

“The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “It only takes a few drinks to impair, and that’s why it is important that people know their limit.”

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

# # #

In July of 2022, deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Lake Forest.  The suspect sustained injuries.  The incident was determined to be within policy.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.22-024107.zip

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

In February of 2022, deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Mission Viejo.  The suspect sustained injuries.  The incident was determined to be within policy.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.22-005175.zip

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Jul. 16, 2026) – On July 18, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will visit the Brew Hee Haw event to educate patrons on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Orange County Fairground Brew Hee Haw event.

The “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and is an interactive way to show how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle. Officers will ask patrons how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will then invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Patrons are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08%. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5% alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01% for every 40 minutes between drinks.

“The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “It only takes a few drinks to impair, and that’s why it is important that people know their limit.”

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

# # #

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Jul. 15, 2026) – On July 15, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will visit the San Juan Summer Nite event to educate patrons on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM In the City of San Juan Capistrano.

The “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and is an interactive way to show how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle. Officers will ask patrons how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will then invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Patrons are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08%. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5% alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01% for every 40 minutes between drinks.

“The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “It only takes a few drinks to impair, and that’s why it is important that people know their limit.”

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

# # #

ORANGE, Calif. (July 10, 2026): On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, an inmate who was housed at the Theo Lacy Facility died at a local hospital.

The 61-year-old inmate, Manuel Moreno, of Yorba Linda, was booked by the Placentia Police Department on Dec. 11, 2025, for PC 69 (Resisting arrest), PC 422 (Criminal Threats), PC 148 (Obstructing/Delaying a Peace Officer), PC 135 (Destruction of Evidence), and H&S 11364 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia). 

On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Moreno was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for medical issues. Moreno was pronounced deceased at the hospital on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The final cause of death will be determined following an independent autopsy and toxicology.                                                                                                          

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.

###

Laguna Niguel, CA. (July 8, 2026): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, July 10th, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Laguna Niguel.

DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with deputies checking drivers for proper licensing.

The Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The Sheriff’s Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

• Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
• Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (July. 25, 2026)- The Orange County Sheriff’s will conduct a traffic safety operation on Saturday, July 27, in the City of Mission Viejo focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Sergeant K. Ishii said, “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.” 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians 

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.  
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.  
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop. 
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night. 
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers 

• Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn. 
• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet. 
• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle. 
• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars. 
• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed. 
• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.  

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

# # #

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (July. 23, 2026)- The Orange County Sheriff’s will conduct a traffic safety operation on Saturday, July 25, in the San Juan Capistrano focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Sergeant K. Ishii said, “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.” 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians 

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.  
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.  
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop. 
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night. 
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers 

• Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn. 
• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet. 
• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle. 
• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars. 
• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed. 
• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.  

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

# # #