Sheriff Martinez has served the residents of San Diego County and the Sheriff's Office since 1985.  She began her career as a deputy working in the jails and then began her first patrol assignment serving the community of Fallbrook.  Sheriff Martinez spent 22 years at the rank of Deputy Sheriff working in several assignments.  Those assignments included gang investigations, narcotic investigations, and criminal intelligence investigator.  As a sergeant, Sheriff Martinez served the city of San Marcos before her selection to supervise Criminal Intelligence Unit.  Her next assignment was to investigate employee misconduct in the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Unit before promoting to lieutenant.  As a lieutenant, Sheriff Martinez served the cities of Encinitas, Del Mar, and Solana Beach.  She also served the communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Valley Center.  Before promoting to Captain, she oversaw the Sheriff's participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration's Narcotic Task Force.  As a Captain, she served the communities of Alpine and the back country of San Diego County.  Sheriff Martinez promoted to Commander and was assigned to oversee the Sheriff's Investigations Units.  Her appointment to Assistant Sheriff put her in charge of the Law Enforcement Services Bureau.  As Undersheriff, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff's Office.  Sheriff Martinez was elected Sheriff in 2022.

Sheriff Martinez is responsible for providing law enforcement services to 4,200 square miles of unincorporated San Diego County, nine contract cities, seven jails, and security for the court houses.   She is responsible for the department's $1.2 billion budget and more than 4,700 authorized employees.

Sheriff Martinez has Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration.  She holds several POST Certificates including a basic, advanced, supervisory and management POST.  She is a graduate of the POST Command College and the National Sheriff's Institute Jail Management and Leadership courses.  Sheriff Martinez graduated from the FBI National Executive Institute in 2024.  She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the San Diego Police Chiefs' and Sheriff's Association, a lifetime member of the California State Sheriff's Association, Major County Sheriff's Association, and the Southwest Border Sheriff's Coalition.  She is a San Diego native and committed to public safety.  Sheriff Martinez is married with one adult son.

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