Riverside County Sheriff's Department - Lake Elsinore Station

If a family member, a loved one or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Lake Elsinore Police Department / Riverside Sheriff’s Department operating in Lake Elsinore, it can cause a lot of angst, mostly just from uncertainty of what will happen or can happen.  Moreover, one is dependent upon the accuracy, honesty and competence of a police officer, who may or may not be experienced or have the same sense of urgency as you in having the police report properly written.  

Facing such a situation, knowing the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense or offenses at issue if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release may lower one’s anxiety.  It is also good to know what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime or crimes that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime or crimes. 

 
We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is well worth the time to research a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be smart to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, a bit of history about the town, city or area, and the most common types of crimes the department investigates to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective and makes assumptions that may be wrong.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The City of Lake Elsinore contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement services for Lake Elsinore.  In other words, Lake Elsinore does not have its own police department anymore.  It was disbanded in 1970 due to budgetary concerns. 

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department operating out of the Lake Elsinore station patrols both Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, as well as eleven districts within Lake Elsinore: Alberhill, El Cariso, Glen Eden, Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Good Hope, La Cresta, Lakeland Village, Meadowbrook, Ortega Hills, Temescal Valley and Warm Springs.

It is a large station, however, we were not able to find the exact number of deputies and civilian support personnel assigned to it.

  
The City of Lake Elsinore is 43.51 square miles (of which 38.24 square miles is land) and has an estimated population of 71,898 as of 2022.

Lake Elsinore attracts folks due to the outlet stores at Cabezon and the world famous and colorful wildflowers and California poppies in the Alberhill district.

During World War II, the lake was used to test seaplanes and a Douglas Aircraft plant making wing assemblies for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers was located in the city.  The lake ran dry during most of the 1950’s and was refilled in the early 1960’s.

For arrests along Interstate 15 and State Route 74 crossing Lake Elsinore, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Lake Elsinore Police Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may also be held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning until bail is posted or the person is transferred to the Riverside County Jail, also called the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside.

As of 2010, Lake Elsinore’s population was 39.5% non-Hispanic white, 7.0% Asian, 6.4% African American and 51.0% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the Lake Elsinore Police Department’s areas of responsibility are brought at the Banning Courthouse, but some are also brought at the Riverside Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street in downtown Riverside.  Cases that may be filed at the Riverside Hall of Justice instead of at the Banning Courthouse would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Over the last 25 years, our office has handled perhaps ten cases arising out of Lake Elsinore and brought in the Banning Courthouse, which is a new courthouse with a beautiful entry area.  They included DUI, shoplifting at the outlet mall at Cabezon and a felony resisting arrest case in which our client had a prior strike conviction.  

However, we have received phone calls from people in Lake Elsinore asking about hiring a criminal defense attorney.  We find that locals to the Lake Elsinore often distrust local criminal defense attorneys as being social friends with prosecutors and judges, so they are unwilling to fight too hard to preserve their friendships, so we are considered as counsel instead because we are not located in Lake Elsinore and presumably have no such ties or loyalties.

Areas Served:  City of Elsinore, Alberhill, El Cariso, Glen Eden, Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Good Hope, La Cresta, Lakeland Village, Meadowbrook, Ortega Hills, Temescal Valley and Warm Springs.

Below is the Google Map to the Riverside Lake Elsinore Station.