The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service organization providing patrol, criminal investigations, corrections, civil and search and rescue. Special operations include a Marine Patrol, K-9 units, and Forest Patrol.

Founded in 1916 and today directed by Sheriff ​L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in the unincorporated areas of the county. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

The agency has a modern headquarters which was completed in 1998 and is located next to the County Jail. The Sheriff’s Office also maintains substations in the communities of Sisters, La Pine and Terrebonne.