When Blaine County was established in 1823, it was sparsely populated and spread across an island of rugged, difficult terrain. In the early days, law enforcement was decentralized, with each town having its own independent Town Marshal responsible for enforcing local ordinances and maintaining public safety. The Marshals would appoint Deputy Marshals to assist with their duties, ensuring a presence in the community despite the vast expanses of the county.

The first formalized law enforcement agency in the area was the Paleto Bay Police Department, created in 1842 under the leadership of its Town Marshal. However, by 1895, the decentralized Town Marshal system had become increasingly ineffective. As Blaine County grew, it became clear that independent law enforcement in each town could no longer keep up with the rising population and expanding challenges. In response, county officials decided to centralize law enforcement duties under a unified department, leading to the creation of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office in 1896. The new office absorbed the Paleto Bay Police Department, and the Town Marshal model was dissolved.

The BCSO was headquartered in Sandy Shores – where the current office still stands on the same property as the original building. Sandy Shores, though centrally located, was sparsely populated compared to the rapidly growing southern regions, particularly around Los Santos. This caused tension between the two ends of the county and in 1889, residents from the southern part of the island petitioned the state legislature, successfully separating Los Santos from Blaine County. On January 1, 1890, Los Santos County was officially formed, marking the first major division in the county's history.

As time passed, the role of Sheriff became more formalized. In the late 1890s, the State of San Andreas enshrined the position of Sheriff in its constitution, mandating that every county elect a Sheriff. The constitution outlined specific duties for Sheriffs, including maintaining a jail, enforcing livestock management laws, investigating unexplained phenomena, identifying roadkill, and addressing environmental crimes within their jurisdiction.

In February 2025, following years of mismanagement within the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department, the Governor of San Andreas issued an emergency order to dissolve the position of Los Santos County Sheriff. As a result, the Sheriff of Blaine County was tasked with assuming the responsibilities of the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Office. This unprecedented move marked a monumental shift for the BCSO, as it suddenly expanded its jurisdiction from a rural area of just 30 square miles and 15,000 residents to encompass the entire island of San Andreas, serving a population of over 3.5 million residents. This transformation required the BCSO to rapidly reform and adapt, taking on an entirely new set of challenges as it became responsible for maintaining law and order in both the rural heartland of Blaine County and the bustling, complex urban environment of Los Santos.

The Blaine County Sheriff's Office plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and security of Blaine County and Los Santos County. With a history stretching back to 1880, we have grown from a small, rural law enforcement agency into a critical force that now spans the entirety of San Andreas, protecting over 3.5 million residents. Originally tasked with overseeing the remote and rugged terrain of Blaine County, our responsibilities have expanded significantly over the course of our history.

The BCSO is responsible for a wide array of law enforcement activities, from rural patrols to complex investigations, all while adapting to the unique challenges presented by both expansive rural areas and the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of Los Santos. Here’s an overview of the core functions we perform:

• Law Enforcement and Public Safety: We are committed to the protection of all citizens, regardless of location, whether in the quiet, vast stretches of Blaine County or the crowded streets of Los Santos. Our Deputies patrol both urban and rural areas, responding to calls for service, handling crime scenes, and performing routine duties to ensure public safety. We maintain a visible presence across the counties, whether it's providing traffic enforcement on the highways, patrolling neighborhoods, or responding to critical incidents like accidents, robberies, or violent crimes.

• Jail and Detention Management: The BCSO is tasked with the management and oversight of Bolingbroke Penitentiary, an essential 410-bed correctional facility that can house both low and maximum-security individuals who are under arrest, awaiting trial, or serving their sentences. Our Deputies work diligently to ensure the safety and security of the facility while maintaining the dignity of those incarcerated.

• Investigative Services: Our investigators specialize in a wide range of investigations, including criminal activity, organized crime, narcotics, theft, violent offenses, and more. The complexities of modern-day crime require a team that can adapt quickly and efficiently. From gathering evidence at crime scenes to conducting interviews and analyzing data, our investigative services extend across all of Blaine and Los Santos counties, working hand-in-hand with other law enforcement agencies when necessary.

• Livestock Management and Environmental Protection: Unique to rural law enforcement, we also enforce laws related to livestock management, ensuring that farmers and ranchers comply with state regulations designed to prevent the spread of disease, manage herds, and maintain healthy agricultural practices.

Today, our Deputies are tasked with a unique blend of rural and urban responsibilities. We serve everyone from residents in the quiet neighborhoods of Paleto Bay to the bustling streets of Vinewood. Our role as both a rural law enforcement agency and a metropolitan sheriff’s office makes us one of the most versatile and essential public safety agencies in the state.