Ret. Captain Sonny F Garcia

Captain Garcia brings over 30 years of distinguished service in law enforcement, marked by a career that spans both state and federal levels. Currently serving as a Senior Federal Polygraph Examiner with the United States Department of Energy,

Captain Garcia holds a pivotal role in national security and investigative integrity. His career is a testament to versatility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to public safety.

Throughout his professional journey, Mr. Garcia has served in a variety of demanding and high-risk roles, including:

  • Deputy Sheriff, in 1993, where he began his law enforcement career, developing a foundational understanding of community-based policing;

  • Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) operator, trained to respond to the most volatile and dangerous situations with tactical precision;

  • Certified Bomb Technician, entrusted with the delicate and life-threatening responsibility of detecting and neutralizing explosive threats;

  • Federal Criminal Investigator, in 2004, was honored to be conducting complex investigations across borders and jurisdictions;

  • Federal Polygraph Examiner, applying his expertise to support intelligence, counterintelligence, and criminal inquiries across multiple federal agencies.

In addition to these operational roles, Mr. Garcia holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, which he has leveraged to bridge the critical gap between law enforcement practice and psychological wellness. His academic background has deepened his insight into the unique mental and emotional burdens carried by those in law enforcement—burdens that, if left unaddressed, can lead to devastating outcomes.

Driven by both professional insight and tragic personal experience, Mr. Garcia recognized a silent epidemic within the ranks: the mental health crisis facing law enforcement officers, and the growing rate of officer suicides. In response, and with a sense of urgent purpose, he developed a groundbreaking mental health and suicide prevention curriculum specifically tailored for law enforcement professionals.

This program, first introduced in New Mexico in February 2019, has since had a profound and measurable impact. To date, it has prevented over 40 officers from taking their own lives and has guided countless others toward mental health resources and support systems that were previously out of reach or underutilized.

Captain Garcia’s work is not only about intervention—it is about transformation. By combining his vast operational experience, academic training, and compassionate leadership, he has become a powerful advocate for officer wellness nationwide. His mission is clear: to ensure that no officer fights their internal battles alone, and to restore hope to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting others.

Some faces have been blurred to protect the identity of the officers.