When a citizen or visitor calls the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for assistance, the initial responding Deputy Sheriff is assigned to the Patrol Division. Deputies in the Patrol Division handle the initial investigative duties for calls for service in the unincorporated areas of Santa Rosa County. These Deputies meet with reporting parties, interview witnesses and suspects, collect evidence, render first aid, make arrests, and conduct traffic stops.

If a scene or investigation is complex, a Patrol Deputy may request assistance from a specialized unit for additional resources; however, the initial case remains the responsibility of the Patrol Deputy.

Many Patrol Deputies receive specialized training in investigative techniques, narcotics detection and investigation, evidence recovery, community policing, and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), enhancing their ability to serve the community. Deputies also receive advanced training in community-oriented policing, use of force, police vehicle operations, and a wide range of other law enforcement topics. The Patrol Division is supported by specialized units, including K-9, Traffic, Marine, School Resource Officers, Crime Scene, and Victim Services.

Santa Rosa County is divided into five patrol districts. Two rotations of three shifts provide law enforcement services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Each shift is supervised by a District Lieutenant and three Sergeants and is staffed by numerous Deputies to ensure an efficient and effective response.

The county’s patrol districts include Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, and Jay. Each district operates a substation, commonly referred to as a District Office.