Deputy Caught Using Dating App During Active SWAT Standoff in Riverside County

Published April 15, 2026

An internal probe has been launched by authorities in Riverside County, California, after footage emerged showing a deputy using a dating app amid an ongoing SWAT operation on Wednesday. Surveillance from above revealed the deputy scrolling through the profiles of three women on his phone while stationed just feet away from an armed suspect who was barricaded.

The event unfolded after the suspect had crashed near a school and remained confined inside his vehicle. The deputy was seen using his phone from behind a SWAT vehicle, while the armed individual stayed barricaded on the opposite side.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office responded, stating, "This conduct does not align with the standards, expectations, or policies of our department. We have started an internal investigation and will take appropriate measures based on the results."