North County cities without their own police departments have renewed their law enforcement services with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Del Mar, Encinitas, Poway, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista all will continue to be covered by the department for another five years, it was announced Wednesday, April 20.

The cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad and Escondido have their own police departments.

“We take pride in announcing today that all nine of our contract cities have unanimously ratified a five-year extension to continue with the Sheriff’s Department as their law enforcement provider,” the agency stated in its announcement.

The relationship between cities and the Sheriff’s Department goes back decades. Del Mar, for example, has contracted with the department for law enforcement services since its incorporation in 1959, the same year the department began working with cities for such services. The case is the same for Encinitas, which incorporated in 1986.

“The City of San Marcos is very happy to continue our long running agreement with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement services in San Marcos,” City Manager Jack Griffin said in the announcement. “We have always strived to incorporate our sheriff station and the staff that work there into the fabric of our community and greatly appreciate the willingness of the Sheriff staff to play a truly meaningful role in improving the quality of life for San Marcos residents and businesses as well as provide highly professional law enforcement services.”

Vista City Manager Patrick Johnson said he had similar sentiments.

“Contracting with the Sheriff’s Department has and continues to provide an opportunity to enhance both the level and quality of service delivered to the City of Vista,” Johnson said in the announcement. “Public safety is an important investment and our collaborative partnership with the Sheriff’s Department offers many advantages to enhance our community’s livability.”

Other San Diego County cities that have renewed their contracts are Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove and Santee.

“Our employees are the very foundation of our organization,” Undersheriff Kelly Martinez said in the announcement. “Their individual backgrounds, skills and experiences from all over the world reflect the diverse communities we are sworn to serve and protect. I am privileged to work with caring professionals who take pride in advancing our mission of providing quality public safety service to everyone in San Diego County.”

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