As of , the ACSO has approximately positions, over of which are sworn peace officers. The Sheriff-Coroner is an elected position currently filled by Yesenia Sanchez. Ahern , served from to The Alameda County Sheriff's Office operates one jail. Santa Rita Jail , located in Dublin, California , is the primary facility that houses most people arrested or convicted of crimes in Alameda County. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office operates a police academy and training exercises for the greater law enforcement community in the Bay Area.
Developed by former Alameda County Assistant Sheriff James Baker, Urban Shield was a weapons expo and first response training exercise that began in The goals of the program were to prepare law enforcement tactical teams, including SWAT teams, to respond to crises and coordinate efforts between law enforcement, fire personnel and medical personnel. An additional purpose was to assess the policies, procedures, organization, equipment and training of attending personnel.
In the first year, scenarios included an active shooter on the UC Berkeley campus, an airplane hijacking, a maritime interdiction, and a mile hike. Numerous first responders from around the county and the world have participated in or observed Urban Shield. Boston police commissioner Edward F. There have been protests against Urban Shield prior to and during the event every year since The following year, the Urban Shield conference was held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA and was also opposed by protestors, 20 of whom were arrested for trespassing and obstruction.
Protesters expressed that the technology showcased at Urban Shield promotes police surveillance and control that specifically targets poor people and people of color. The demonstration included performances and speeches to resist the repression. In , the Stop Urban Shield Coalition and community organizations successfully pressured the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to put an end to the program. The crime lab, located at the Eden Township substation, receives and analyzes evidence from law enforcement agencies throughout Alameda County.
The crime lab has capabilities in controlled substance analysis, latent fingerprint recovery, ballistics, tool mark identification, and DNA extraction and analysis. Crime lab staff can also serve as crime scene investigators upon request by law enforcement agencies in the county. Coroner's pathologists, deputy sheriffs, forensic death investigators, and sheriff's technicians assist law enforcement agencies to determine the cause and manner of death of persons in Alameda County.
