Robert J. Olmsted, a 29-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was recently promoted to the rank of Captain by Sheriff Lee Baca and assumed command of the Department's Commercial Crimes Bureau. He is currently assigned to oversee the operations of Men's Central Jail.

Captain Olmsted's law enforcement career began in 1978, when he attended the Sheriff's Department's Training Academy. After graduating that year as a Deputy Sheriff, he held assignments at Custody Division, Firestone Station and the Training Bureau. In 1987 he was promoted to Sergeant and served at Lomita Station, Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau, Legislative Unit and Narcotics Bureau. Upon being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1998, he took on assignments at Century Regional Detention Facility, Food Services, Carson Station, Lennox Station, Lomita Station, Training Bureau's Deputy Leadership Institute, and the Commercial Crimes Bureau.

Captain Olmsted earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He also attended the Los Angeles Police Department's West Point Leadership and Command Program. In 2001 he graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy, Class 206. In 2006, he graduated from the Senior Management Institute of Policing at Boston University. Prior to joining the Sheriff's Department, Captain Olmsted proudly served his country in the United States Army.

Captain Olmsted resides in the city of Huntington Beach. He has a son, Michael, 20, a student at Cypress Community College, who is currently pitching for the schools' baseball team. In his spare time, Captain Olmsted enjoys boating, water skiing, camping, collecting baseball cards, running, hot rods and spending time with his family. He is a part-time instructor at El Camino College, Torrance, teaching a variety of criminal justice courses. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign War, Huntington Beach Post, and an Honorary Member of the "Viking's Charities". Captain Olmsted's favorite quote is "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life".