DeLand, FL – There’s a new second-in-command at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Dietrich – a member of VCSO since July 1994 – was promoted to Chief Deputy by Sheriff Ben Johnson on Tuesday, replacing Robert Jones.
“With the retirement of Bobby Jones, Eric certainly has some very big shoes to fill,” Johnson stated in a VCSO press release. “But he has a very broad and well-rounded range of experience, both in the field and in the supervisory and administrative realms.”
Dietrich’s promotion comes a day after Jones formally retired from VCSO, where he had served for over 28 years under Johnson and former Sheriff Ed Duff.
The 44-year-old has been a VCSO captain for the past 5 years, responsible for commanding law enforcement operations in DeBary. He’s also been the head of the Special Services section, which oversees air, marine, range, dive and K-9 units.
Prior to that, Dietrich worked in the patrol, investigations and narcotics divisions. He’s also been a SWAT commander and an assistant district commander for law enforcement operations in northwest Volusia.
“Eric knows our overall operations as well as anyone and has done an outstanding job with each and every one of his assignments,” Johnson added. “I’m confident that he’s going to do a great job as my new Chief Deputy.”
The Chief Deputy is responsible for all the daily operations of the agency’s 3 operating divisions as well as the fiscal and public information departments.
Dietrich – who has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy – lives in South Daytona with his wife Kristine and their 2 kids, a 15-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.
This move comes after Johnson – who announced that he would not seek a 5th term as Sheriff earlier this month – publicly endorsed Dietrich as his replacement when his current term ends at the end of the year.
Dietrich filed to run for Sheriff on Tuesday, according to the county Supervisor of Elections website.
The only only person who’s formally filed so far is Wendell Bradford, a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputy who lives in Volusia. He ran against Johnson and lost in the 2000 and 2012 elections.
Eric Dietrich (photo courtesy VCSO)
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.