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Executive Team
Dependable, Experienced, and Professional Leadership
At the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, our leadership is characterized by dependability, experience, and professionalism. Led by seasoned Sheriff Tina Nieto, our team is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement and public safety. With years of experience in serving our community, our Sheriff's Office is committed to ensuring the well-being of all residents.
Tina Nieto,
Sheriff-Coroner
Sheriff Tina M. Nieto has 34 years in law enforcement, serving in many sworn positions both operationally and administratively. She is the first Latina Sheriff in the history of the State of California sworn in on December 30, 2022. Her decisive victory as the Monterey County sheriff also made her the first woman, first person of color and first openly gay person to be elected sheriff in that county. Prior to being elected, Sheriff Nieto served over 5 years as the Police Chief for Marina, Ca after spending 28 1/2 years with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), including her last ten years as a Command Officer with that agency. When she was promoted to Command Level with the LAPD she became the first female Hispanic in LAPD’s history to do so.
Sheriff Tina Nieto was born in San Gabriel, California, and raised in West Covina, California.
Sheriff Nieto has a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management, from the University of La Verne, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. She is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute of Policing through PERF. Sheriff Nieto also served eight years with the United States Army Reserve (USAR) attaining the rank of Captain. With the USAR, she served in various leadership roles including Assistant to the Provost Marshall, commander of a military police company, a member of a Nuclear Weapons Logistic Element, and a squad leader of Ordnance specialists.
Sheriff Nieto is currently a California Commissioner on the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) appointed in 2021 by Governor Newsom. The POST Commission forms a balanced group of city and county administrators, law enforcement professionals, educators, and public members that sets minimum selection and training standards for over 600 California law enforcement agencies.
Nieto has over 25 years of teaching experience, including the West Point Leadership Program, the LAPD Academy, and a guest speaker for Leadership Conferences, and leadership topics at the LAPD Supervisory School. She spent ten years as a facilitator and facilitator trainer for POST’s Supervisory Leadership Institute program designed for supervisors to enhance personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making and is actively involved in curriculum revision for the program. Nieto has served on many boards throughout her career, including the past president of the Hispanic American Police Command Officer’s Association (HAPCOA), an international association of law enforcement leaders. Sheriff Nieto has also been the recipient of numerous awards both locally, nationally, and internationally for her work with diverse communities.
Sheriff Nieto is also active in several philanthropic organizations to include the Elks, the Moose Lodge, The American Legion, and is a Rotarian. Sheriff Nieto lives with her partner of 24 years, and three rescue dogs in Monterey County, and in her free time (what free time?) likes to read sci-fi and binge watch K-dramas.
Keith Boyd,
Undersheriff
Keith Boyd grew up in Rancho Cordova, CA where he attended Cordova High School. He attended California State University Sacramento earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. In addition, Keith attended the University of San Diego where he received a Master of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership as well as a Certificate of Law Enforcement Command
For more than 28 years, Keith has dedicated himself to public safety serving communities in California and Oregon. Keith attended the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Basic Police Academy in 1995 and upon graduating joined the organization as a reserve deputy sheriff before subsequently joining the Marin County Sheriff’s Office in 1996. He steadily worked his way up through the ranks from Deputy to Sergeant to Lieutenant in Marin County serving in all the bureaus (Field Services, Detention Services, and Administration Services) of the Sheriff’s Office. During his time in Marin County Keith served as a P.O.S.T subject matter expert in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Coroner Operations.
In 2016 Keith was appointed the Deputy Chief of Police for the Woodburn (OR) Police Department and then returned to California in 2018 where he served as a Police Officer for the Central Marin Police Authority. Keith was appointed as a Captain with the King City Police Department in 2019 and has served as Chief of Police of the King City Police Department for nearly two years.
Keith has graduated from the following Police Officer Standards and Training leadership courses: Sherman Block Supervisor Leadership Institute, P.O.S.T Management program, P.O.S.T. Executive Development program, and P.O.S.T. Command College Class 58 where Keith was awarded the prestigious Hank Koehn Command College Leadership Award. Keith has also completed the California Police Chief’s Association Executive Development Program and the FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute.
Keith previously served as a member of the League of Cities Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations Police Committee; California Police Chiefs and State Sheriffs Associations Rapid DNA Committee; California Attorney Generals Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Medical Care Committee; Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Operations Subcommittee; Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Medical Advisory Subcommittee; Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association; P.O.S.T Coroner Curriculum Development Committee. In addition, Keith is a current member of the California State Sheriff’s Association, California Police Chief’s Association, and International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Keith has been married for more than 21 years to his wife, Mary Jane. They are the proud co-parents of four adult children – Bret Martin, Rachel Yost, Whitney Boyd, and Lindsey Boyd, as well as their family dog Leilani and grandparents to Davina and Alicia. Keith spent many years volunteering coaching youth athletics in Sacramento and Sonoma Counties, including high school baseball at Cordova and Casa Grande High Schools. Keith is a member of the King City Chapter of Rotary International and the Paso Robles Elks Lodge.
Garrett Sanders,
Chief Deputy - Corrections Operations Bureau
Garrett Sanders grew up in Fresno, CA, where he attended Edison High School. He attended Gavilan and Ohlone College and majored in Criminal Justice. In 1995, he graduated from the Tulare-Kings County police academy at the College of the Sequoias, Visalia, CA.
Garrett joined the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office in January 1996. For the past 27 years, he has dedicated himself to providing public safety to the citizens of Monterey County. Garrett began as a correctional deputy in the county jail and served as a correctional training officer before transferring to the patrol division. While on patrol, he also served as a Field Training Officer for many years. Garrett served on the County of Monterey Marijuana Eradication Team (C.O.M.M.E.T.) before promoting to detective in 2005, where he worked as a Narcotics Detective. In 2007 he was promoted to patrol sergeant. During his time as a patrol sergeant, he worked all three patrol stations, Central (Salinas), Coastal (Monterey), and South County (King City).
After being promoted to Commander in 2013, Garrett held numerous commands within the Sheriff’s office: all three patrol stations, Jail Operations Commander, Court Services Commander, and Investigations Division Commander. In 2014-2015, Garrett also acted as the contract law enforcement chief for ten months while the sheriff’s office provided night-time law enforcement services for the King City Police department.
Garrett also served on the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team for more than sixteen years as a team member, sniper, assistant team leader, team leader, and SWAT team Commander. He also served as the dive team commander for two years.
Garrett has graduated from the following Police Officers Standards and Training leadership courses: Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, P.O.S.T. Management program, FBI LEEDS Management training, FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership training and is a 2017 graduate of the 268th class of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Garrett has previously served as a representative member for the Bay Area UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) for homeland security funds; served with the Monterey County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council; worked with the Police Athletics League (P.A.L.) and was a Sheriff’s Office Explorer advisor for many years. In addition, Garrett is a current member of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBI NAA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the California Narcotics Officers Association (CNOA), and the California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO).
Garrett has been married to his wife, Nelda, for more than 22 years. Nelda is a retired law enforcement officer who proudly served the citizens of Monterey County for 27 years. Together they have seven adult children and ten grandchildren.
Eddie Anderson,
Chief Deputy - Administration Operations Bureau
Eddie Anderson began his affiliation with the Marina Police Department as a volunteer Reserve Police Officer in February of 1997. In July of 1997, he was hired as a trainee and attended the Evergreen Police Academy in San Jose Ca. He successfully completed the Police Academy on December 5th of 1997 and was sworn in as a full time Police Officer the day of his graduation. Eddie was a full time Police Officer with the City of Marina for 25 years.
Eddie has held many assignments. He was a DARE Officer for both elementary and middle school, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Field Training Officer Supervisor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Mobile Field Force Operator, SRU Operator, Motor Sergeant, Traffic Bureau Supervisor, he served on the Training Committee for the California Police Chiefs Association and he currently teaches Emergency Vehicle Operations for the Marina, Coyote, and San Mateo Police Academy’s.
In December of 2017, Eddie was appointed to be the Acting Commander of Patrol Operations and less than a year later he became the permanent Commander of Patrol Operation. In addition to that assignment, he often assumed the duties for the Commander of the Administrative Services Division and served as the Acting Chief of Police when needed.
Eddie possesses a BS (Bachelor of Science) in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University, and he possesses a MA (Master of Arts) in Organizational Leadership from California Coast University, where he graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude) with a GPA of 3.85.
In 2020 Eddie had his first article titled “Why We Must Be The Example” published both by Police1 and the California Police Chief’s Magazine. In his article he states;
“As individuals we must personally hold ourselves accountable for our actions, recognizing that how we treat people influences how society views law enforcement as ONE BODY. Our nation is waiting for us to be better and our communities are depending on us to do the right thing. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or social status and struggles, we must value and respect human life. We must be the example!”
Eddie was instrumental in assessing the internal structures and operations of the Marina Police Department, identifying the need for a transformational shift in leadership behaviors and practices. As a result, Eddie successfully led the yearlong Transformational Change Project (TCP) which concluded in early 2020. He collaborated seamlessly with the doctoral candidate project facilitator throughout the preparation and implementation period. Ultimately the following main transformational change goals were achieved: (1) Improve the Marina Police Department’s organizational culture, enhance teamwork and provide greater transparency to the public, (2) Increase trust within the department and help leaders serve as models of accountability, (3) Provide sworn officers and department staffers with training and education plans outlining paths to individual career goals, and (4) Develop an ongoing program to keep officers apprised of new legislation and case law. Of note, the employee sentiment and satisfaction percentage increased dramatically from only 29% positive in June 2019 to an astounding 63% positive in April 2020 as determined through internal surveys and interviews.
Eddie is thankful to God for creating his path in life. He thanks his family, his children, Jaden and Kaylee, mother Myrna, Father Russell (who is no longer with us), and his younger brother Anton, for their years of continued support. There are many other people that are no longer a part of his life that were also very influential in him being where he is today. Lastly but not least, Eddie credits the Men and Women from all departments of the City of Marina and the community of Marina for always blessing him with their love and support, and for all the wisdom and life experiences he has gained from all of them.
Jason Smith,
Chief Deputy - Enforcement Operations Bureau
Chief Deputy Jason Smith, for more than 34 years, has dedicated himself to public safety serving in communities throughout Monterey County. At the age of 14 he joined the Monterey County Sheriff's Office as a Sheriffs Explorer. Upon graduating high school, he accepted a volunteer firefighter position with the City of Marina, where he volunteered for 4 years. Jason attended Monterey Peninsula College and Gavilan College and majored in Criminal Justice. In 1997, he graduated from the Gavilan College police academy in Gilroy CA.
Jason was hired as police officer in September 1997 with the City of Greenfield and then joined the Monterey County Sheriff's Office in 1998 where he has served at the ranks of deputy sheriff, sergeant, commander, and acting chief deputy sheriff for the past 3 months. Jason started has worked as a deputy sheriff in the Corrections Operations Bureau at the county jail, where he was also assigned to the transportation unit before transferring to the Enforcement Operations Bureau patrol division.
While on patrol, Jason held many collateral assignments. He worked as a K-9 hander with his partner "Jack", was Field Training Officer, Mobile Field Force team leader, SWAT team member, SWAT team leader, SWAT commander. He has worked at all three patrol stations across the county, Central (Salinas), Coastal (Monterey), and South County (King City). In addition to his day-to-day duties Jason taught Taser certifications, Defensive tactics, Drug abuse recognition and Emergency Vehicle Operations.
After being promoted to Sergeant in 2014, Jason worked at the Coastal division and returned to Central patrol station while also working as a SWAT Team Leader. In 2016, Jason was assigned to the Community Services division where he coordinated over twenty-five special events per yeat, responded and coordinated all MCSO responses to disasters, working closely with many county agencies and public safety agencies during disasters.
After being promoted to Commander in 2020 Jason held many commands within the Sheriff's office: Community Services division, all three patrol stations, and the Investigations Division Commander, as well as was the SWAT team commander. Jason has graduated from the following Police Officers Standards and Training leadership courses: Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, P.O.S.T. Management program.
Jason served as a Sheriffs Explorer Advisor, Sergeant, and Commander for over ten years. In addition, Jason is a member of the California State Sheriffs association (CSSA), the California Narcotics Officers Association (CNOA), and the California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO).