Serving with Integrity: Inside the County’s Social Services Special Investigations Unit

The SIU Team: (L—R) Chris Arzola, Jose Camacho and Tom Arnold

Behind the scenes at the Department of Social Services (DSS) is a highly trained and compassionate team dedicated to protecting vital community resources while ensuring families in need continue receiving support. This month, we had the opportunity to meet with Social Services Investigators Chris Arzola and Jose Camacho, along with Supervising Social Services Investigator Tom Arnold, to learn more about the important work being done by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

The SIU team investigates suspected fraudulent receipt of public assistance benefits, including CalWORKs, SNAP benefits, and homeless assistance programs. While many people may assume the role focuses solely on criminal prosecution, the investigators emphasized that education, outreach, and connecting people to resources are equally important parts of the job.

Their unofficial slogan is “We protect the truly needy from the truly greedy.”

Arnold stated there will always be people who try to take advantage of the system, but their responsibility is to make sure families who genuinely need help are able to receive it.

The work requires a unique balance of investigative skills, professionalism, and compassion. One of the requirements of becoming a Social Services Investigator is attending the police academy and completing the POST Specialized Basic Investigator’s Course, a demanding four-month commitment that takes investigators away from their homes and families. During the academy, they receive extensive training in areas such as verbal de-escalation techniques, commonly referred to as “verbal judo,” investigative procedures, and firearms training, although investigators in this county position do not carry weapons.

Their cases can range from local concerns to highly organized criminal activity. The SIU team has encountered investigations involving members of the Sinaloa cartel and a Romanian crime syndicate operating within San Luis Obispo County, something many residents would never expect to exist in our little community.

To successfully conduct investigations, the team regularly collaborates with agencies including the Housing Authority, Child Welfare Services, local sheriffs, and police departments throughout SLO County, and law enforcement agencies across California and other states. In one case, investigators even worked alongside officials in the Virgin Islands to assist with an investigation.

SIU Investigator Chris Arzola and Supervising Social Services Investigator Tom Arnold celebrate at Arzola’s POST graduation ceremony, where Arzola earned both the Top Investigator Award and the Academic Achievement Award for his class.

Despite the complexity of the work, the investigators say some of their biggest challenges are often communication related. Language barriers and regional dialects can complicate investigations and make it more difficult to ensure participants fully understand program requirements. Because of this, the SIU team spends a significant amount of time educating clients about reporting household composition and income changes. They provide needed information about food banks, housing support, and additional county resources.

Their goals as investigators are not to get people in trouble, the team explained. They are there to find the facts and clarify inconsistencies.

Each member of the SIU team brought a different professional journey to the position, creating a well-rounded unit with diverse experience and perspectives.

Tom Arnold previously served with the Sheriff’s Department before joining DSS. In addition to leading the SIU team, he has also served on the SLOCEA negotiations team representing the supervisory unit.

Chris Arzola’s path to SIU included working as a police officer for the Department of Defense before joining Social Services. Chris worked his way through several county positions: Administrative Assistant, Senior Account Clerk, and Employment Resource Specialist before becoming an investigator. He says he continues to live by the law enforcement code of ethics and is especially motivated by protecting vulnerable participants from individuals who exploit or traffic those relying on social aid.

Jose Camacho earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and previously worked for CAPSLO and then as a DSS Social Worker before joining the investigations team. Jose says his motivation is to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected and directed toward families who genuinely need assistance.

Together, the SIU team exemplifies the dedication, professionalism, and compassion that county employees bring to the community every day. Their work often takes place quietly behind the scenes, but the impact they have on protecting public resources and supporting vulnerable residents is immeasurable.

San Luis Obispo County is fortunate to have a team that understands both the immense responsibility entrusted to them and the importance of serving the community with empathy and integrity.

Carrie McGrath

Labor Representative