A San Bernardino County outreach and enforcement operation in Rancho Cucamonga contacted approximately 95 people experiencing homelessness and resulted in 25 arrests, county officials announced Aug. 28. The campaign, dubbed Operation Shelter Me, combined outreach by county social services with enforcement by the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station and partner units.
Multidisciplinary teams, dual goals
The county’s Community Service and Reentry Division deployed its Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) Team and the Innovative Remote On-site Assistance Delivery Teams for the Aug. 21 operation. They worked alongside the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station’s Multiple Enforcement Team, Solution Oriented Policing and the San Bernardino County Probation Department.
Officials said the outreach effort aimed to connect unhoused residents with county staff and services — including housing, medical care and mental health treatment — while also addressing safety concerns raised by community members.
“[The operation] focused on individuals with significant mental illnesses to help them connect with restorative mental health pathways,”
Arrests tied to new enforcement provisions
County officials noted that some arrests during the operation were made under provisions enacted by California’s Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which voters approved on Nov. 5, 2024. The proposition took effect Dec. 18, 2024, and revised multiple statutes from Proposition 47.
According to the county, Proposition 36 introduced new Penal and Health and Safety Code provisions that law enforcement can apply in arrests and that carry enhanced sentencing. County officials said the changes also prevent some defendants from being cited and released before their court appearance.
Numbers from Operation Shelter Me
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Individuals contacted | Approximately 95 |
| Arrests made | 25 |
- Operation date: Aug. 21 (announcement Aug. 28)
- Lead county units: Community Service and Reentry Division HOPE Team; Innovative Remote On-site Assistance Delivery Teams
- Law enforcement partners: Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station Multiple Enforcement Team; Solution Oriented Policing; San Bernardino County Probation Department
Local implications and next steps
The operation highlights the county’s combined approach of pairing outreach with targeted enforcement in Rancho Cucamonga. Officials emphasized outreach to people with significant mental illness to guide them toward treatment options; at the same time, they used newly available legal mechanisms associated with Proposition 36 in some arrests.
County statements framed Proposition 36 as responding to concerns that prior law changes had contributed to increased homelessness, substance use and theft. In the announcement, county officials said the reforms addressed shortcomings they believe stemmed from earlier measures, stating those laws “have been responsible for increasing homelessness, drug addiction and theft.”
For Rancho Cucamonga residents, the operation may signal continued combined outreach-and-enforcement efforts by county and local agencies. Officials did not provide a complete breakdown of charges for the 25 arrests in the county release, nor a full accounting of how many people engaged with housing or mental health services as a direct result of the contacts during Operation Shelter Me.
County and Rancho Cucamonga law enforcement officials have previously said they balance public safety concerns with efforts to connect unhoused residents to services. This operation underscores those competing priorities and the evolving legal landscape under Proposition 36.
The county release included photos of deputies taking individuals into custody during the operation and reiterated that outreach teams targeted those with significant mental illness to aid connections to care. Officials did not identify individuals arrested or disclose further demographic details in the announcement.
Further updates from San Bernardino County or the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station may provide additional information on outcomes for people contacted during the operation and specifics about charges stemming from the arrests.
