The new Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. Alejandro “Alex” Navarro brings nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement throughout San Diego County. Navarro has had experience temporarily overseeing the Imperial Beach Sheriff’s station, but he said this is his first full-fledged assignment of being in charge of an entire station. “I was assigned to work in Ramona but I wanted to be in charge of my own station,” said Navarro, 52. “I love the challenge and I’m really excited about it. I know there’s a lot of good deputies who work here and it’s an awesome community.” The resident of Blossom Valley in unincorporated El Cajon started working at the Ramona Sheriff’s substation on April 4. He replaces former lieutenant, George Crysler, who had joined the substation last December. Crysler was promoted to captain and is now working at the Sheriff’s Personnel Department in Kearny Mesa. Before Crysler, Ramona’s lieutenant was John Malan, who was promoted to captain after nearly two years in Ramona and left to work at the Sheriff’s station in Vista. Navarro joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office after earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University in 1997. He then went to work in numerous law enforcement positions, starting as a corrections deputy at the Vista Jail in 1998. A few years later, he returned to the Regional Law Enforcement Academy before being assigned to the San Diego Courthouse Court Services Bureau in downtown San Diego. Following that, he served in civil process at the Kearny Mesa Traffic Court. “From there, I went to the Santee Sheriff’s station as a patrol deputy,” Navarro said. “I would say I made numerous arrests over the five years I was there.” His career led him to solving crimes as an area detective at the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station. Then he became a gang detective for the East County Regional Gang Task Force. “I loved it,” he said. “I worked in organized crime, dealing with prison gangs and street level gangs. I worked with different agencies, including federal agencies, and I was involved in fighting human trafficking.” His job performance earned him a promotion to sergeant and he was sent to the County Administration Center where he worked with the waterfront enforcement team and provided security for the administration center. Next Navarro was transferred to the Alpine Sheriff’s Station where he worked as a patrol sergeant followed by a stint as a Sheriff’s homicide sergeant for three years. He rose through the ranks again to become a lieutenant and was assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, the Rancho San Diego Patrol Station and to the Sheriff’s Personnel Department, where Crysler is working now. Navarro said he is excited about the opportunity to work in Ramona where he once assisted with emergency services during the 2007 Witch Creek fire and worked as a homicide sergeant on a couple of murder cases. “My kids once played soccer so we came here for a couple of soccer tournaments,” said the father of three adult sons, including one who is a deputy in Imperial Beach. “I’m excited to get to know the community and everything that Ramona has to offer. I hope by being here that I can make a difference.” Navarro said he plans to continue projects that Crysler had begun, such as assisting California Highway Patrol officers in enforcing speed limits and issuing driving under the influence citations. Navarro will also continue to monitor the progress of the proposed Ramona Sheriff’s substation construction project that will eventually replace the existing substation with a new $41.5 million building at 1424 Montecito Road. The county Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the capital project in several weeks, Crysler said. Early plans for the substation include an 18,000-square-foot building that would be nearly double the size of the existing substation that is located in two 5,000-square-foot buildings. The existing substation is expected to be demolished to make way for the new one. In the meantime, the Sheriff’s office is preparing to locate the Ramona Sheriff’s operations in a temporary building yet to be selected, Crysler said. Construction of the new permanent substation is tentatively set to get underway in January 2026 and continue through January 2028. “I’m excited to be here and moving forward,” Navarro said.