The California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) is a professional, non-profit organization composed of the state’s 58 elected sheriffs and thousands of law-abiding citizens who support them.
Established in 1894, CSSA was created to provide California’s sheriffs with a unified and effective voice, to share knowledge and resources, and to strengthen law enforcement services across the state.
Through cooperation, training, and leadership, each sheriff works diligently with fellow members to elevate the profession and improve the delivery of justice. Because sheriffs are constitutionally elected officials, their duties and responsibilities are governed by California law. CSSA serves as the legislative and professional advocate for sheriffs, their departments, and the citizens they protect.
The sheriffs of California and the California State Sheriffs’ Association have established the following goals:
Your membership helps fund essential training, legal support, and public safety programs that directly benefit sheriffs. To strengthen the influence and community support of California’s sheriffs, the CSSA Associate Membership Program was authorized in 1984.
This program offers law-abiding citizens the opportunity to become associate members of CSSA and take part in supporting public safety and law enforcement initiatives statewide.
Greetings! I am Chad Bianco, the elected Sheriff of Riverside County. I also have the tremendous honor to represent California Sheriff’s as the President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association. I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence my colleagues have placed in me, and I accept this responsibility with humility, determination, and a profound respect for the office. Serving as Sheriff of Riverside County has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I consider it an even greater privilege to represent the Sheriffs of California in this new role.
As sheriffs, we occupy a unique role in government. We are directly accountable to the people we serve. We are entrusted with protecting public safety, safeguarding constitutional rights, and ensuring that the rule of law applies equally to everyone. Those responsibilities are not political. They are foundational to a free and safe society.
Today, California faces significant challenges. Crime affects too many of our communities. Fentanyl continues to destroy lives and families. Recruitment and retention remain difficult for many agencies. Public confidence in institutions has been tested. And too often, the voices of the people working on the front lines of public safety are overlooked. I remain optimistic because I know the caliber of leaders who represent CSSA.
Sheriffs are problem-solvers. We don’t have the luxury of ignoring challenges. We confront them every day. We work with our communities, our deputies, our professional staff, and our local partners to find solutions. We understand that public safety is not a slogan—it is a responsibility.
As President, I will work to ensure that this association remains a strong and credible voice for public safety throughout California. I will advocate for policies grounded in reality, not ideology. I will support efforts that help us recruit and retain the next generation of law enforcement professionals. I will fight for the resources our counties need to keep communities safe, and I will continue to defend the principles that have guided this profession for generations: service, accountability, integrity, and respect for California and the Constitution.
Most importantly, I will work to strengthen the unity among California’s Sheriffs. While our counties may differ in size, geography, and demographics, we share the same commitment to the people we serve. We are stronger when we stand together, learn from one another, and speak with a united voice on the issues that matter most.
To my fellow Sheriffs, thank you for your friendship, your partnership, and your trust. I look forward to working alongside each of you.
To our law enforcement professionals across California, know that this association stands with you.
Thank you for this opportunity to serve.
May God bless you, may God bless the men and women who protect our communities, and may God continue to bless the great State of California.
Sheriff Chad Bianco
President, California State Sheriffs’ Association
Elected sheriffs who lead the California State Sheriffs’ Association and represent its unified voice statewide.
The dedicated administrative team that ensures CSSA’s operations, events, and communications run efficiently.
The dedicated administrative team that ensures CSSA’s operations, events, and communications run efficiently.
