Special Operations Unit (SOU)

The Special Operations Unit (SOU) is a collaborative investigative effort with the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol that provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups. The SOU evaluates and validates information by examining critical records and conducting field surveillances to identify methods of operation as well as the focus on the organizational hierarchy networks. Personnel conduct undercover operations to gather evidence leading to the arrest and prosecution of the principals involved. Emphasis is placed on target selection to insure the elimination of the criminal organization rather than just the random arrest of easily replaced members.

The SOU provides appropriate support to the task forces and local agencies, while focusing on inter/intra-jurisdictional criminal organizations, violent career criminals, and gangs exceed the capabilities of local agencies.