Mike Walsh

Lieutenant Mike Walsh (Ret.)

In 1991, Mike Walsh began his public service career by joining the United States Marine Corps as an infantry Marine directly out of high school. He deployed to Vladivostok, Russia for training operations and later to Mogadishu, Somalia in support of a humanitarian mission. After his honorable discharge, he joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (RSO) in Southern California.

Mike has served with RSO since 1996, starting in the corrections division before transferring to patrol at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station in 1999, and later the Moreno Valley Station. In 2001, he became a collateral member of the Emergency Services Team (EST/SWAT) while on patrol, then transferred to the Special Enforcement Detail (SET) in Moreno Valley, focusing on narcotics enforcement and fugitive apprehension.

When EST became a full-time assignment in 2004, Mike remained with the team until promoting to Sheriff’s Sergeant in 2006. He supervised patrol at the Jurupa Valley Station before returning to EST in 2007 as Team Leader, continuing in tactical leadership until becoming a SWAT Lieutenant in 2023. He retired in 2024 and currently serves as a Level 1 Reserve Deputy Sheriff, teaching critical incident response to patrol personnel, supervisors, and other agencies.

During his EST/SWAT tenure, Mike served as Sniper Team Leader, certified explosive breacher and Breacher Team Leader, and agency lead hostage rescue instructor. He instructed active shooter response, firearms, chemical agents, diversionary devices, and less-lethal tactics, teaching at POST-certified SWAT schools and the 80-hour Supervisor’s Course. He also pioneered the integration of muzzled K9’s in hostage rescue operations.

Mike is affiliated with the California Association of Tactical Officers, a former Chairman of the SoCal SWAT Commanders Group, and a published author in The Tactical Edge - the professional journal of the National Tactical Officers Association. 

Course Taught: Critical Incident Response