Orange County Sheriff's Department - Dana Point Station

If a loved one, a family member or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff Police Department, it can be frustrating.  It can also cause a lot of anxiety when one realizes that one is dependent upon the honesty and competence of a police officer, who may or may not be experienced or have the same sense of urgency as you.

 
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 help.  Knowing 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 may also help. 

We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is smart to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be wise to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crimes the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history 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.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff Department is relatively small.  It is staffed with 37 sworn police officers and about fifteen civilian support personnel. 

The Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff Department is responsible for patrolling the City of Dana Point, which is 29.5 square miles, but only 6.49 square miles of land.  It has a population of 33,107 as of 2020.

The city was named after the headland of Dana Point, which was in turn named after Richard Henry Dana, author of Two Years Before the Mast, which included a description of the area. Dana described the locale, including neighboring San Juan Capistrano, as "the only romantic spot on the coast."

Dana Point has a notable surfing and was home to many of the first companies that produced products for surfing.  Hobie Alter opened the world's first retail surf shop in Dana Point in 1954.  Many surf publications such as the Surfer's Journal and Surfer Magazine were formed and headquartered in Dana Point.  Bruce Brown produced the iconic surfer film Endless Summer in Dana Point.

"Killer Dana" was a legendary surf break off Dana Point.  It was notorious because it came out of deep water and broke close to the rocks that lined the beach.  The Killer Dana wave, however, was destroyed when the Dana Point Harbor was built in 1966.  A breakwater now cuts through the heart of the once epic surf spot.  In 1997, the surf group The Chantays recorded an instrumental track named "Killer Dana."

For arrests along the 101 crossing Dana Point, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may also be held at the Dana Point Station until bail is posted or the person is transferred to the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

As of 2010, the city’s population was 70.87% non-Hispanic white, 3.90% Asian, 0.81% African American and 19.01% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department areas of responsibility are brought at the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse), but some are also brought at the Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Driver West in downtown Santa Ana.  Cases that may be filed at the Central Justice Center instead of at the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse) would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Over the last 25 years, our office has handled perhaps 30 cases arising out the Dana Point Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Station and brought in the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse).  Such cases vary from DUI to domestic violence, to reckless driving, to shoplifting, to public intoxication.

Below is the Google Map to the OCSD Dana Point Station.