On October 27, 2002, Sheriff Lee Baca and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established the Sheriff's Department's Homeland Security Division. The Division, founded on the premise that our nation's homeland security is based upon the security of local communities, is comprised of bureaus whose responsibilities relate to the ongoing safety and security of potential high-risk threat targets or are resources to prevent, mitigate, or provide specialized response capabilities to Homeland Security threats and acts of terrorism.

"Our mission is to prevent, intervene, disrupt, mitigate, and provide specialized response capabilities to acts of terrorism and Homeland Security threats, whether natural disaster or caused by man."

To accomplish our mission, Homeland Security Division personnel seek to apply 21st Century solutions to 21st Century problems. We have embraced technology where it enhances emergency response capabilities such as incident command systems, radio and data interoperability, real-time video downlinks, and establishing links with local, regional, state, national and international partners. We also work to identify and adopt proven operational strategies that promise to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our work and the safety of our communities and our personnel.

In keeping with the Sheriff's Department's Core Values, the men and women of Homeland Security Division continually work together to be leaders in our nation's Homeland Security efforts. We have established ongoing partnerships with regional, state and national partners including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Joint Regional Intelligence Center, and Joint Terrorism Task Force. We also have forged relationships with international partners through the Department's Police Diplomacy effort. The Department's innovative outreach to Los Angeles County's Muslim community, the Muslim Community Affairs Team, is a part of Homeland Security Division.

The Homeland Security Division motto "Semper Vigilans Semper Paratus" (Always Vigilant Always Prepared) succinctly states the division's focus of effort. We continue to be vigilant, looking for, identifying, and mitigating risks while maintaining a constant state of response and recovery readiness.

Please click on the tabs to your left to learn more about each of Homeland Security Division's bureaus.