MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto has announced the promotions of Commander Jason Smith to the rank of chief deputy and Sgt. Veronica Olguin to the rank of commander effective Nov. 18.
“I spoke with both this morning about the expectation of leadership roles at their levels in the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office,” Nieto stated. “Both understood the responsibility that comes with their new positions, and their steadfast commitment to the personnel that make up this fine organization to help create the best Sheriff’s Office in this state and eventually in this nation. We are all in this together.”
Chief Deputy Smith has been a member of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years. He started as an Explorer Scout volunteer in 1989. He took a brief hiatus as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Marina in 1994 until he returned to his roots in law enforcement when he self-sponsored himself through the Gavilan Police Academy in Santa Clara County in 1997.
Upon graduation from the police academy, Smith began his career with the Greenfield Police Department until an opportunity presented itself to become a deputy sheriff with the Sheriff’s Office in 1998. He served in the Corrections and Enforcement Operations Bureaus as a deputy sheriff until he was promoted to sergeant in 2014 and commander in 2020.
During Smith’s career, he has held various specialized positions within the organization, such as a field training officer, K9 handler and SWAT team member, leader and commander. He has received various awards for his hard work and dedication to the Sheriff’s Office throughout his career.
When informed of his promotion, Smith said he was honored by his selection by the sheriff.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Monterey County as I have throughout most of my life,” said Smith, whose father — the late Jim Smith — retired from the Sheriff’s Office as a chief deputy sheriff in 2002. “Having been a lifelong resident of Monterey County and a second-generation member of this organization, it is my honor to serve the public.”
Commander Olguin has been a member of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years.
Olguin self-sponsored herself through the Gavilan Police Academy in Santa Clara County, and upon graduation in 1996 started her career with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff in the Corrections Operation Bureau. While serving as a deputy sheriff, she was selected to perform the duties of a training officer.
Olguin was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2000 and continued her assignment in the Corrections Operations Bureau.
In addition to overseeing the various shifts at the County Jail, she has held various specialized positions within the Corrections Bureau, such as incarceration services sergeant, court services sergeant, transportation unit sergeant and most recently as an acting commander since April 2023.
Olguin has received various awards for her hard work and dedication to the Sheriff’s Office throughout her career.
When informed of her promotion, Olguin stated a quoted from an unknown author that she tries to live her life by: “Go out and be the change you want to see in this world.”
