The new Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. Alejandro “Alex” Navarro brings nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement throughout San Diego County.
The resident of Blossom Valley in unincorporated El Cajon started working at the Ramona Sheriff’s substation on April 4. He replaces former lieutenant, George Crysler, who had joined the substation last December. Crysler was promoted to captain and is now working at the Sheriff’s Personnel Department in Kearny Mesa.
Navarro joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office after earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University in 1997. He then went to work in numerous law enforcement positions, starting as a corrections deputy at the Vista Jail in 1998. A few years later, he returned to the Regional Law Enforcement Academy before being assigned to the San Diego Courthouse Court Services Bureau in downtown San Diego. Following that, he served in civil process at the Kearny Mesa Traffic Court. From there, he went to the Santee Sheriff’s station as a patrol deputy.
His career led him to solving crimes as an area detective at the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station. Then he became a gang detective for the East County Regional Gang Task Force. His job performance earned him a promotion to sergeant and he was sent to the County Administration Center where he worked with the waterfront enforcement team and provided security for the administration center.
Next Navarro was transferred to the Alpine Sheriff’s Station where he worked as a patrol sergeant followed by a stint as a Sheriff’s homicide sergeant for three years. He rose through the ranks again to become a lieutenant and was assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, the Rancho San Diego Patrol Station and to the Sheriff’s Personnel Department, where Crysler is working now.
Navarro is excited about the opportunity to work in Ramona where he once assisted with emergency services during the 2007 Witch Creek fire and worked as a homicide sergeant on a couple of murder cases.
Lt. Alejandro Navarro will be involved in transitioning the current Ramona substation to a new $41.5 million, 18,000-square-foot building over the next several years.
Dr. Brian Thurman, Superintendent, Romona Unified School District
Dr. Thurman’s career spans twenty-nine years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, professor, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. Beginning in April, 2022, he served as interim Superintendent for Calexico Unified School District in Imperial County. Before assuming the role of interim Superintendent, Dr. Thurman led the district’s Human Resources and Risk Management Departments as Assistant Superintendent since 2019.
Dr. Thurman began his public education career in McFarland and Jurupa Unified School Districts teaching elementary students, before working as an assistant principal and principal in Ontario-Montclair School District. Eventually, Dr. Thurman served as a middle school principal, high school principal, director of Human Resources and director of the School of Education for a local university. Most recently, he served as principal of Riverview Elementary in Lakeside before serving in the Assistant Superintendent capacity for Calexico Unified. Dr. Thurman and his wife live in San Diego where she is a nurse practitioner and a nursing professor for 2 local universities. All three of their sons graduated from Azusa Pacific University.
Throughout Dr. Thurman’s educational career, he has taken on an array of initiatives, outreach and academic improvement efforts that have created an environment of collegiality with staff, families, and the community-at-large. Having worked in large and small, suburban and urban districts, makes him uniquely positioned for success in Ramona. As a strong communicator (and Spanish speaker), he brings a deep sense of inclusivity and insight to the role. Dr. Thurman’s ability to listen, build relationships and bring people together are trademarks that will strengthen RUSD’s mission to ensure a high level of learning for all students through a culture of collaboration with families and the community.
Speakers
The new Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. Alejandro
The new Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. Alejandro “Alex” Navarro brings nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement throughout San Diego County.
The resident of Blossom Valley in unincorporated El Cajon started working at the Ramona Sheriff’s substation on April 4. He replaces former lieutenant, George Crysler, who had joined the substation last December. Crysler was promoted to captain and is now working at the Sheriff’s Personnel Department in Kearny Mesa.
Navarro joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office after earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University in 1997. He then went to work in numerous law enforcement positions, starting as a corrections deputy at the Vista Jail in 1998. A few years later, he returned to the Regional Law Enforcement Academy before being assigned to the San Diego Courthouse Court Services Bureau in downtown San Diego. Following that, he served in civil process at the Kearny Mesa Traffic Court. From there, he went to the Santee Sheriff’s station as a patrol deputy.
His career led him to solving crimes as an area detective at the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station. Then he became a gang detective for the East County Regional Gang Task Force. His job performance earned him a promotion to sergeant and he was sent to the County Administration Center where he worked with the waterfront enforcement team and provided security for the administration center.
Next Navarro was transferred to the Alpine Sheriff’s Station where he worked as a patrol sergeant followed by a stint as a Sheriff’s homicide sergeant for three years. He rose through the ranks again to become a lieutenant and was assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, the Rancho San Diego Patrol Station and to the Sheriff’s Personnel Department, where Crysler is working now.
Navarro is excited about the opportunity to work in Ramona where he once assisted with emergency services during the 2007 Witch Creek fire and worked as a homicide sergeant on a couple of murder cases.
Lt. Alejandro Navarro will be involved in transitioning the current Ramona substation to a new $41.5 million, 18,000-square-foot building over the next several years.
Dr. Brian Thurman, Superintendent, Romona Unified School District
Dr. Thurman’s career spans twenty-nine years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, professor, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. Beginning in April, 2022, he served as interim Superintendent for Calexico Unified School District in Imperial County. Before assuming the role of interim Superintendent, Dr. Thurman led the district’s Human Resources and Risk Management Departments as Assistant Superintendent since 2019.
Dr. Thurman began his public education career in McFarland and Jurupa Unified School Districts teaching elementary students, before working as an assistant principal and principal in Ontario-Montclair School District. Eventually, Dr. Thurman served as a middle school principal, high school principal, director of Human Resources and director of the School of Education for a local university. Most recently, he served as principal of Riverview Elementary in Lakeside before serving in the Assistant Superintendent capacity for Calexico Unified. Dr. Thurman and his wife live in San Diego where she is a nurse practitioner and a nursing professor for 2 local universities. All three of their sons graduated from Azusa Pacific University.
Throughout Dr. Thurman’s educational career, he has taken on an array of initiatives, outreach and academic improvement efforts that have created an environment of collegiality with staff, families, and the community-at-large. Having worked in large and small, suburban and urban districts, makes him uniquely positioned for success in Ramona. As a strong communicator (and Spanish speaker), he brings a deep sense of inclusivity and insight to the role. Dr. Thurman’s ability to listen, build relationships and bring people together are trademarks that will strengthen RUSD’s mission to ensure a high level of learning for all students through a culture of collaboration with families and the community.