San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Big Bear Lake Station

If a friend, a loved one, a family member or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department from the city-operated Big Bear station, it can cause a lot of worries, mostly just from uncertainty of what will happen or can happen.  Moreover, one is dependent upon the accuracy, honesty and competence of a sheriff’s deputy, 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 one’s  uncertainty.  It is also valuable 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 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, 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 Big Bear, also known as the Big Bear Lake, operates the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department station in Big Bear.  It is located at 477 Summit Boulevard in Big Bear.

While no specific numbers are available, we believe it is a medium-sized station with, we estimate seventy-five deputies and thirty civilian support personnel assigned to it.  

The Big Bear Sheriff’s Department patrols an area of 258 square miles square miles, to include o include the communities of Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, Erwin Lake, Baldwin Lake, Lake Williams and Fawnskin. Additionally, a type I jail facility is housed within the county building. 

The City of Big Bear has a population of 5,019, but this number can swell to over 100,000 with tourists and people enjoying a vacation to the area.  The city got its name from grizzly bears that used to inhabit the area, but they have long since left and / or been killed for decades.  Now, black bears inhabit the area formerly inhabited by grizzly bears.

For arrests along State Route 18 crossing Big Bear, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Big Bear Police Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may also be held at the Big Bear jail until bail is posted or the person is transferred to the Glen Helen Detention Center in Devore, or the Central Detention Center (San Bernardino).

As of 2010, Big Bear’s population was 73.3% non-Hispanic white, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% African American and 21.4% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department from the city-operated Big Bear station areas of responsibility are brought at the Big Bear Courthouse, but some are also brought at the San Bernardino Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street in downtown San Bernardino.  

Over the last 25 years, our office has not handled even one case arising out of Big Bear and prosecuted in the Big Bear Courthouse.  We would expect such cases to include, but not be limited to DUI, violation of a protective order, domestic violence, shoplifting and possession of and / or sales of a controlled substance.  

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

Areas Served:  Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, Erwin Lake, Baldwin Lake, Lake Williams, Fawnskin and the City of Big Bear Lake.

Below is the Google Map to the Big Bear Station.