Riverside County Sheriff's Department - Calimesa Station

If you, a loved one or a family member have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Calimesa Police Department (really the Riverside Sheriff’s Department from Cabezon operating in Calimesa), it can cause a lot of apprehension, mostly just from fear of the unknown of what will happen or can happen.  

Moreover, one is dependent upon the accuracy, honesty and competence of a police officer or deputy sheriff, 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 ease some apprehension.  It is also prudent 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 good to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be helpful 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 Calimesa contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cabezon Station, to provide law enforcement services for Calimesa.  In other words, Calimesa does not have its own police department.  The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cabezon Station, policing Calimesa is a small station with an unspecified number of deputies and an unspecified civilian support personnel assigned to it.  

This is so based on the population of Calimesa being 7,879 as of the 2010 census and the city being only 14.87 square miles, so we would expect 25 or less deputy sheriffs to be assigned to this station.  

The City of Calimesa was incorporated on December 1, 1990, soon after the incorporation of its northern neighbor, the City of Yucaipa.
The Sandalwood Fire was a wildfire that burned in Calimesa in October 2019.  The fire killed two people and destroyed 74 structures.  The fire burned for five days.

For arrests along the I-10 freeway crossing Calimesa, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Calimesa 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, Calimesa’s population was 72.7% non-Hispanic white, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% African American and 22.4% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the Calimesa Police Department’s areas of responsibility are brought at the Riverside Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street in downtown Riverside.  

Over the last 25 years, our office has not handled a single case arising out of Calimesa and brought in either the Banning or the Riverside Courthouse.  However, we would expect such cases to include, but not be limited to, DUI, domestic violence, shoplifting, and possession and / or sales of a controlled substance.  

However, we have received phone calls from people in Calimesa asking about hiring a criminal defense attorney.  We find that locals to the Calimesa area 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 presumably have no such ties or loyalties.

Areas Served:  City of Cabazon municipal police services.

Below is the Google Map to the Riverside Calimesa Station.