Congratulations to Ashwin Sundaresan, a 5th Grader at Stone Ranch Elementary School in 4S Ranch.
On Thursday, May 22, Sheriff Martinez and members of her command staff visited Stone Ranch Elementary to give Ashwin the news in front of his classmates. From there, Ashwin was sworn-in as Sheriff for the Day and given a special tour to experience what it is like to be a part of the Sheriff’s Office.
To watch video of Ashwin’s unforgettable day, click on the above photo. You can also watch the video by clicking here. To download video for broadcast, click here.
Below is the winning essay that Ashwin submitted for the “Sheriff for the Day” Contest:
“Hi, my name is Ashwin and I’m in the 5th grade. When I grow up, I want to be a Sheriff in San Diego County. Some people want to be astronauts or doctors, but I want to help people right here in my own beautiful county. I want to be a Sheriff because I think it’s really important to keep people safe. When someone is scared or in trouble, the Sheriff is the one they can count on. I want to be the kind of person who listens and shows up when people need help. Also, I like being a leader and working with others, and Sheriffs do a lot of that every day. If I were the Sheriff, I would do more than just prevent crime or punish criminals. I would visit schools to talk to kids about safety and being kind to each other. I’d make sure there were more neighborhood events, so people could get to know one another better. I think when people feel like they’re part of a community, they’re nicer to each other. I’d also help people who don’t have homes or need food by working with shelters and food banks. Being a Sheriff means caring about everyone, not just the people who follow the rules. Everyone deserves help sometimes. I know it’s a big job, but I’m not afraid of working hard. I want to be a Sheriff so I can make a real difference and show that even one person can help a whole town feel safe and happy.”
Photo of Sheriff Kelly Martinez with Ashwin Sundaresan and his parents.
On behalf of Sheriff Martinez and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, we would like to thank Ashwin and his family for their support and commitment to public service.
We also want to thank all the 5th graders from across San Diego County that submitted an essay for the “Sheriff for the Day” Contest. We appreciate their passion for law enforcement and willingness to helping their communities.
Sheriff Martinez looks forward to bringing back the “Sheriff for the Day” Contest in 2026.
To learn more about the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, click here. Follow the Sheriff’s Office on X and Instagram: @SDSheriff.
