Edward G. Prieto was first elected Sheriff-Coroner of Yolo County in 1998 and is now serving his third term in the position. His leadership has impacted every level within the Sheriff’s Department, as well as the community at large.

Sheriff Prieto was born in San Fernando, California, into a law enforcement family.

In 1962 he was accepted into the prestigious 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army, as a Paratrooper and honorably served his country.

Shortly after finishing his Army tour, in 1968 Prieto joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP). He worked five different field commands; two headquarter commands, and led the CHP Statewide Motorcycle Training Operations to one of the lowest injury and fatality records in the history of the CHP. During his CHP career, he worked every rank from Officer to the highest leadership role as Commander. Prieto retired as a Captain in 1998, after 31 years of service and receiving many commendations and awards.

After retiring from the CHP, Prieto brought his law enforcement expertise to Yolo County Sheriff’s Department. As the elected Sheriff-Coroner, he is responsible for a staff of over 300 personnel. Sheriff Prieto leads over twenty departmental divisions and sections. With decades of command experience, the Sheriff has revitalized and enhanced specialized programs within the department. He has increased personnel training by over five hundred percent since he was first elected, to ensure the most professionally trained staff possible.

With great respect and dedication to Yolo County residents, Sheriff Prieto has led a number of dedicated volunteers in serving the community through the department’s S.T.A.R.S. (Sheriff’s Team of Active Retired Seniors), Cadets, Reserves, Aero-Squadron, and Posse volunteer programs. Prieto has also enhanced public service through increased deputies on patrol and enlarged Animal Services Annex, using outside grant funding. In addition, Sheriff Prieto has completely redone the information technology component of the department improving not only officer safety, but also service to the community.

In addition to maintaining an organized and well run department which serves and protects the county, Sheriff Prieto collaborates with many public and private entities, such as the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, Chamber of Commerce and Latino organizations. He has dedicated the use of personnel to the District Attorney’s Gang Task Force, Yolo County’s Narcotics Enforcement Team (YONET), the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), and the county’s Area Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT / SWAT).

In 2007 Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Sheriff Prieto to the California Corrections Standards Authority Board, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, within which he continues to serve in a noble and honorable fashion.

Being a lifelong advocate for human rights, Prieto was asked to co-author a Professional Police Ethics Course. This course has been taught to a number of law enforcement officials since it was written.
Sheriff Prieto is married to one of the highest-ranking women on the CHP, and boasts of being the father of five daughters and eight grandchildren.