Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New Enforcement Operations Bureau Chief Deputy Eric Bixler

 

On Tuesday, July 8 Monterey County Sheriff Tina M. Nieto held an informal Swearing-In Ceremony to welcome

newly hired Enforcement Operations Bureau Chief Deputy Eric Bixler.

Chief Deputy Eric Bixler has dedicated his life to public service for over 35 years serving as an Emergency Medical

Technician and a member of the United States Army. Bixler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of

California, Los Angeles, while he also holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Western States University College of Law. During law

school, he clerked at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office. During his service with the United States Army, he received

Platoon Guide of the Cycle for the entire Fort Jackson.

Bixler started his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1996 and rose to the rank of

Lieutenant II. While with the LAPD, Bixler was a federally sworn Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

United States Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). He has worked numerous assignments during

his tenure including patrol, gangs, narcotics, crime analysis, Civil Rights Integrity, Transnational Organized Crime, firearms

trafficking and importing, RICO, Homicide Conspiracies and Interpol. During his time working narcotics, he was the top

instructor for the California Narcotics Officers’ Association and won the CNOA award for Narcotics Officer of the Year for

all of Southern California as well as several medals for actions as an LAPD officer.

His last assignment was as the Officer in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Transnational Organized Crimes Task

Force, Federal Bureau Investigation’s Metropolitan Task Force and Violent Gangs with Homeland Security Investigations, the

United States Marshals Apprehension Task Force and the United States Marshals Foreign Prosecution Liaison Unit, Interpol.

He was also responsible for the tactical and firearms training for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics

Division.

Sheriff Tina M. Nieto stated, “Chief Bixler contributes extensive experience and is a significant asset to the Monterey County

Sheriff’s Office. You will often see Chief Bixler out in the field supporting our team of deputies and being actively involved

with the community.”

Chief Deputy Bixler stated, “I’ve always believed in enjoying the work you do for the community. I look forward to coming

to work every day. I am also excited to bring my K9 partner Zuko to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. It has been a

pleasure getting acquainted with the area and I am proud to join this team. It’s an honor to serve the residents of Monterey

County.”

A formal Swearing-In Ceremony, where Chief Deputy Eric Bixler will be introduced to the community, is tentatively scheduled

for October of 2025.