Honesty, Integrity, Dedication, Accountability
Respect, Compassion, Courage and Trust

The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County (DSA) is the professional labor organization of the more than 2,500 sworn deputies of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. For the last sixty years, the DSA has been, "The Strength Behind the Badge"^® supporting San Diego Deputies and their families.

The Strength behind the Badge” is the slogan chosen by the men and women of the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County to symbolize it purpose and meaning. Those five simple words echo the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of countless deputy sheriffs of all ranks who built the DSA brick by brick into the respected political, labor and community leader that it is today.

Since its founding in 1954 as the Sheriff’s Relief Association, many thousands of names have passed through its membership roster and those people laid a rock solid foundation for the professionalism, camaraderie, and relief of the sworn members of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. What makes the nearly 5,000 members of the DSA unique is that from the Sheriff, to a first day rookie deputy, to concerned community members, each represents a collective interest in the well being of the law enforcement profession and the people they serve.

The membership of the DSA has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars from their paychecks into our communities and youth programs because they know, perhaps better than anyone, the importance of foundation. Society reflects yesterday’s children and the neighborhoods they grew up in. Today shows us that the DSA was there yesterday, as they are today and will be tomorrow, to truly be The Strength behind the Badge.
- Jim Duffy, DSA Past President