Dominguez takes over Sheriff's command

There’s a new Commander in the house – at the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation, that is. Lt. Alex Dominguez, a 26-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, assumed command of the 130-square-mile Fallbrook region May 18 after Lt. Grant Burnett accepted a position to head up the county’s SWAT team.

Dominguez, a community-oriented leader, arrives with better-than-good credentials. In 2006, he was a member of the 226th graduating class of the FBI’s National Academy. Accepted into the program based on multiple achievements, Dominguez attended the academy with law enforcement leaders from all over the world.

“One-third of the program was academic, one-third physical training and one-third networking,” he explained. “It has given me contacts all over the world in law enforcement. That is very advantageous when you are trying to develop solutions to problems.”

Dominguez welcomes the assignment to Fallbrook because, he says, he feels this is a safe community that he can help make safer.

“I’m so happy to be here,” he emphasized. “It is an honor to serve this community. For a lieutenant, it doesn’t get any better than this. The community is diverse, proud, friendly, supportive of the Sheriff’s Department and there is a grassroots effort to continue improving the community.”

The lieutenant was pleased to see that, despite an increase in population, the area crime rate declined in 2006 over 2005. Specifically, he says, he hopes to make a positive impact on reducing property crimes, agricultural crime, drug activity and gang issues.

With a Bachelor’s degree in management, Dominguez quickly assessed the staff in Fallbrook and says he is pleased with the dedicated professionals he will be working with.

“The deputies love this community; they are happy to work here and serve the people,” he said. “They are the best the department has to offer and they take pride in what they do. In my opinion, we have a model group here.”

“Do I feel we can do better? Of course I do,” he said. “We can make a safe place even safer.”

Dominguez is interested in meeting with as many community groups as possible to glean information about citizens’ concerns. “I’ve been riding along with the deputies and talking with them about their concerns out in the community,” he said. “I want to connect with members of the community and listen to what they have to say.”

“Every person – every call – is important here,” Dominguez said. “I’d like to set the tone that we are solving problems in a partnership with the community. We can’t do it alone.”

Dominguez also said he wasn’t shy about putting his knowledge of county resources to use as needed for Fallbrook. “There are tremendous resources available to us and I intend to use them,” he said.

Twenty of Dominguez’s years with the Sheriff’s Department have been spent in supervisory roles, including recruit training and internal affairs. He will head up the Fallbrook Substation, which includes four professional staff members, 24 patrol deputies, five sergeants, one crime prevention specialist and 50 Senior Volunteer Patrol members.