16-Year Sheriff's Veteran Promoted To Captain

Date Added: January 11, 2011 2:00 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has a new Captain and DeBary has a new law enforcement commander. Sheriff Ben Johnson officially presented Captain’s bars to Eric Dietrich during a promotion ceremony Tuesday morning in Daytona Beach. A 16-year law enforcement veteran and Volusia County native, Dietrich began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in July 1994 and was promoted to Sergeant in 2003 and Lieutenant in 2005. “I’m proud of you, and I expect a lot out of you,” Sheriff Johnson told Dietrich in front of a large crowd of co-workers and family. “Promotions are earned, and you’ve definitely earned this.”

While the promotion actually took effect on Dec. 25, Sheriff Johnson made it official during Tuesday’s ceremony at the agency’s Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center. A 2009 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, the 39-year-old Dietrich also has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida. His previous assignments at the Sheriff’s Office have included patrol, investigations and narcotics. He also heads up the Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT Team and previously served as Assistant District Commander of the Sheriff’s Office’s DeLand law enforcement operations. “It’s an honor and a pleasure to present you with your badge,” said Sheriff Johnson.

In his new assignment, Dietrich will head up the Sheriff’s Office’s law enforcement operations in District 6, which includes all patrol and investigations in the city of DeBary as well as some outlying areas outside of the city. Dietrich will supervise a staff of 50 that includes 27 deputies, 21 school crossing guards, one school crossing guard supervisor and an office assistant. He replaces Captain Alan Osowski, the Sheriff’s Office’s inaugural DeBary Commander who has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 21.

Married with two children, Dietrich said he’s excited about his new assignment. “The community has already welcomed me with open arms, and I look forward to continuing the excellent relationship that the Sheriff’s Office has had with the city and its residents,” said Dietrich. “I encourage anyone who has a law enforcement issue or concern to pay me a visit so that we can work together to keep DeBary safe.”