Sheriff Kelly Martinez has served the residents of San Diego County with the Sheriff’s Department since 1985. She began her career as a deputy working in county jails. Her first patrol assignment was in the community of Fallbrook. She was an investigator and worked several assignments, including drug and gang enforcement in North County and the Criminal Intelligence Detail.

During her time as a sergeant, Martinez supervised a patrol team in the City of San Marcos before being selected to supervise investigators in the Criminal Intelligence Detail. Her next assignment was to investigate employee misconduct in the Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Unit before being promoted to lieutenant. Martinez served the cities of Encinitas, Del Mar, and Solana Beach, as well as the communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Valley Center. As a lieutenant, she also oversaw the Sheriff’s Department’s participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force.

As a captain, Martinez served the community of Alpine and the rural areas of San Diego County. She was later promoted to commander and led the Sheriff’s Investigation Units. Martinez’s appointment to Assistant Sheriff put her in charge of the Law Enforcement Services Bureau, which encompasses the Sheriff’s patrol operations, investigative units, Regional Crime Laboratory, Communications Center, and Emergency Services Division.