Commander Ricardo Lopez

Ricardo Lopez is a Commander with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office and is assigned to the Law Enforcement Bureau overseeing Support Operations. He is a 29-year veteran of San Diego County law enforcement and began his current assignment as Commander in January 2023. His public service began in 1995, working for the San Diego Probation Department. A year later he joined the San Diego Sheriff's Office where he graduated from the Sheriff's Corrections Academy. He began his career at the San Diego Central Jail and was later transferred to George Bailey Detention Facility. In 1998, Commander Lopez graduated from the Regional Law Enforcement Academy and embarked on his law enforcement services career at the San Marcos Station where he served for seven years in various assignments such as Patrol Deputy, School Resource Officer, and the Narcotic and Gang Team. In 2007, he joined the North County Regional Gang Taskforce and worked alongside other local, state and federal partners in preventing and combatting gang violence in North San Diego County. In 2013, he was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to Valley Center and 4S Ranch Substations and Criminal Intelligence Unit. In 2018, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Communications Center, Fallbrook Substation and served as the Media Relations Director. As a Captain, he oversaw the Emergency Services Division in 2021. A year later he led the Vista Station until the end of 2022. Commander Lopez has a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Additionally, he graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, San Diego Regional Leadership Institute, and most recently the FBI National Academy. One his proudest achievements is being the co-leader of the Sheriff's Spanish Academy (Academia del Alguacil) launched in 2021 serving the Spanish-speaking community during a 6-week academy addressing important public safety topics. Commander Lopez is married, is father to four adult sons, has a beautiful daughter in law and is a proud grandparent.