*****Paid for by the Committee of DanielGarcia4Sheriff (R)*****
Biography
DANIEL C. GARCIA
Married to the former Lauren Peetermans, who served with the United States Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. Together, they are raising their four sons — Caesar (17), Romain (15) Marcus (7), and Andros (5) — in Naselle, Washington, where they are proud to call home.
Born in Colorado and raised in both Southern and Northern California, Daniel enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 through the Delayed Entry Program in 2000. In 2006, he transferred to the Navy Reserve and continued a distinguished military career.
Senior Chief Garcia deployed nine times in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. His service spanned a wide range of assignments, from aircraft carriers and small boat security operations to ground combat missions in the Persian Gulf and other operational theaters.
Throughout his military career, Daniel earned numerous qualifications and distinctions, including the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist designation, Expeditionary Warfare Specialist qualification, and the Small Craft Insignia as a Coastal Riverine Force Tactical Craft Coxswain/Patrol Leader. He also served in Naval Special Warfare Group One, supporting SEAL Team 1, SEAL Team 3, SEAL Team 7, and Special Reconnaissance Team 1. He concluded his military service assigned to SEAL Team SEVENTEEN, supporting its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program before officially retiring from the United States Navy on October 1, 2022.
In 2022 Daniel and Lauren launched their family-owned small business, Sons of a Carpenter Goods and Services, LLC. Their business specializes in acquiring government surplus items, online sales, and restoring and maintaining knives and hand tools through sharpening, tuning, lubrication, and repair services.
In November 2022, Daniel Garcia was elected Sheriff of Pacific County and officially took office on January 1, 2023. As Sheriff, he remains dedicated to the People of Pacific County and serving the community with honor, integrity, and courage.
Plans of action
LEAD
Promised in 2022
Establish a culture within the entire Sheriff's Office that fosters leaders and growth at all levels.
Delivered (2023- Present)
Strengthened leadership throughout the Sheriff’s Office by empowering employees to take ownership of their roles and expand their capabilities. Detectives have improved their ability to manage and complete investigations efficiently, Sergeants have helped identify and coordinate meaningful training opportunities, and Division Chiefs have successfully led and managed their respective divisions. Deputies have stepped forward to develop new skills and broaden the services and capabilities of the office. A collaborative culture focused on growth, mentorship, and professional development has been encouraged throughout the agency. Leadership development has also extended into the community through active participation in local youth organizations and mentorship opportunities to develop future leaders of our community.
Plan for the Future
Continue building a strong leadership culture within the Sheriff’s Office by expanding advanced leadership training opportunities for staff and developing future leaders through continued mentorship and one-on-one coaching. Encourage employees to lead in areas aligned with their strengths and interests to improve operations and service to the community. Maintain a leadership philosophy centered on accountability, integrity, professionalism, and leading by example while continuing to foster the positive culture and growth already established within the office.
MAN
Promised in 2022
Fill the vacancies in the Department which will allow for more staffing = better scheduling = better County coverage = faster response times = safer community. Expand the range for Recruiting.
Delivered (2023 - Present)
Successfully filled all available vacancies within the Jail and Patrol Divisions while also adding and filling new positions within the jail. Established the Surfside Homeowners Association Deputy position and created the framework for future community contract deputy positions to expand services throughout the county. Through a strong workplace culture, the Sheriff’s Office has become an agency where people want to work. While many law enforcement agencies continue to face staffing shortages, Pacific County has maintained strong recruitment interest despite being a lower-paying agency compared to surrounding agencies.
Plan for the future
Moving forward, the focus will remain on advocating for additional deputies and civilian staff in accordance with the staffing plan approved by the Board of County Commissioners (dated April 2021), as well as other empirical staffing data. Continued investment in personnel will help ensure the Sheriff’s Office can meet the growing needs of the community while maintaining strong public safety services, effective response times, and sustainable support for deputies and staff.
TRAIN
Promised in 2022
Train to higher standards and in more aspects. Leadership, Investigations, De-escalation, Advanced Interviewing for LE investigators, Defensive Tactics, Weapons handling, Advanced Tactical Response, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Basic usage then Surveillance, Emergency Response with other agencies. Maintaining a full department allows for more training time.
Train to failure
Delivered (2023 - Present)
During this term, all promised training goals were accomplished. Training standards were expanded across multiple disciplines to better prepare deputies for the evolving challenges of law enforcement and public safety. By maintaining a fully staffed office, the Sheriff’s Office was able to dedicate more time and resources toward professional development, advanced instruction, and scenario-based training designed to improve readiness, decision-making, and overall effectiveness in the field.
Plan for the future
As training programs continued to grow, gaps in specific skill areas were identified and targeted for improvement through the implementation of additional specialized instruction. Deputies have become certified instructors in a variety of disciplines, allowing entire training programs to be brought back in-house to the agency. Moving forward, these instructors will continue training both PCSO personnel and surrounding area agencies, strengthening regional partnerships while ensuring deputies receive consistent, high-quality training that meets the demands of modern law enforcement.
EQUIP
Promised in 2022
Properly equip EVERYONE with what they need throughout the Department. Get rid of expired and outdated gear. This is for the Deputies, Corrections Officers, and Staff's safety and the safety of the People in Pacific County.
Delivered (2023- Present)
During this term, expired, outdated, and broken equipment throughout the office was replaced, and comprehensive assessments were completed to identify both current and future operational needs. Investments were made in body armor, rifles, pistols, optics, lights, medical equipment, entry tools, quads, e-bikes, radars, body-worn camera systems, mobile and portable radios, and improved cellular service capabilities with plans for future satellite integration. In some cases these updates were made by trading in old equipment to purchase new. This saved the tax payers tens of thousands of dollars. The vehicle fleet was updated with improved visibility to the public, standardized equipment layouts, and enhanced functionality for deputies in the field. Office spaces and jail facilities were also modernized to improve daily operations and working conditions. Jail staff received updated uniforms and appropriate cold-weather clothing, and every jail deputy was equipped with a taser. Training equipment was significantly expanded, including EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course) equipment, defensive tactics mats, training pistols, and training tasers. In addition, older PCSO vehicles were cycled to local partner agencies, including multiple fire departments, vegetation management, and emergency management agencies, helping bolster fiscal resources throughout the county.
Plan for the Future
The office will continue modernizing and maintaining equipment to ensure deputies, and staff have the tools necessary to safely and effectively serve the community. Future plans include continued fleet replacement and maintenance scheduling to avoid major one-time financial burdens, replacing aging mobile radio systems that are more than 25 years old, and implementing range extenders and satellite-based capabilities to improve communication coverage throughout the county. K9 vehicles will continue to be replaced according to mileage and operational usage schedules, while new patrol vehicles will feature improved storage systems, brighter emergency lighting, and more standardized, user-friendly configurations. The long-term goal is to stay proactive with equipment replacement and modernization so the office remains prepared, efficient, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of Pacific County.
COMMUNICATE
Promised in 2022
Establish or increase internal and external information flow and coordination. All leaders in the County should understand what the Sheriff's Office goals are and vice versa. All People should have a means to have their voices heard by the Sheriff. Transparency to the Community.
Delivered (2023- Present)
During this term, communication and transparency with both the public and regional partner agencies were significantly expanded. An email distribution list was created to provide news releases, updates, dispatch and arrest reports directly to community members. The PCSOINFO email address was established to allow the public direct access to command staff, and the PCSO website was updated with clearer, easier-to-find information. Social media began being used more effectively to communicate directly with the community in real time, including direct video updates from the Sheriff. The Sheriff also remained accessible to the public by attending community meetings throughout the county and being available for direct conversations with residents.
Internally, communication and coordination were strengthened through expanded use of Google-based systems. The Sheriff’s Office has remained actively involved with county boards and committees, has a direct partnership with Pacific County Emergency Management during community emergencies, participates as a Washington Association of County Officials Trustee board member, and maintains regular communication with Region 3 sheriffs, Washington state Sheriffs, Sheriffs across the nation, legislators, federal partners, state agencies, the United States Coast Guard, and ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) partners. These relationships have improved coordination, information sharing, and collaboration to assist the Sheriff’s Office to serve the People.
Plan for the Future
Moving forward, the office will continue working to strengthen relationships and communication throughout Pacific County and the surrounding region. Efforts will focus on reopening and improving working relationships with the South Bend and Raymond Police Chiefs, establishing strong communication and coordination with the new Pacific County Communications (PACCOM) Director, and improving communication with General Administration and the County Commissioners. The goal is to continue building transparent, professional, and productive partnerships that improve public safety services and ensure the community remains informed and connected to its Sheriff’s Office.