Opinion No. (2002)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General GREGORY L. GONOT Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE WILLIAM B. KOLENDER, SHERIFF, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, has requested an opinion on the following question: Is a deputy sheriff of the County of San Diego, who is employed to perform duties exclusively or initially relating to custodial assignments, a "peace officer" while away from the county's detention facilities and appearing at community service events, participating as a member of the Sheriff's Honor Guard, or conducting recruitment background checks or internal affairs investigations? CONCLUSION A deputy sheriff of the County of San Diego, who is employed to perform duties exclusively or initially relating to custodial assignments, is not a "peace officer" while away from the county's detention facilities and appearing at community service events, participating as a member of the Sheriff's Honor Guard, or conducting recruitment background checks or internal affairs investigations. ANALYSIS In the County of San Diego, certain sheriff's deputies are employed to perform duties exclusively or initially relating to custodial assignments and are referred to as "corrections deputies." The question…