Edward Varso
The John Birch Society
Ed Varso’s path to a career in law enforcement began as a teenager with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1993, when he became a sheriff explorer. Ed was later hired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a custody assistant and then as a deputy sheriff.
In 2001, Ed was hired as a police officer by the Escondido Police Department in Southern California. Ed rose through the ranks, serving as a police officer and police K-9 handler until he was promoted to sergeant in 2011. In January 2015, he was promoted to lieutenant. Ed was promoted to captain in 2018, then to the position of assistant chief of police in October 2019, followed by his promotion to chief of police in December 2019.
Ed worked in every division within the Escondido Police Department, including managing the Special Investigations Division, Traffic Division, and Emergency Negotiations Team, as well as serving as the department’s public information officer. As a captain and assistant chief of police, Ed managed the Services Bureau, with oversight of the police and fire communications center, the Backgrounds and Training Unit, Property and Evidence, the Records Division, and the Business Division.
Ed’s reputation as a leader with strong strategic-management abilities led to temporary assignments within the Escondido City Manager’s Office, where he helped develop and strengthen underperforming teams.
In 2022, Chief Varso became the second chief of police for the newly established Menifee Police Department. Ed successfully implemented many effective strategies in Menifee before ultimately returning to once again lead the Escondido Police Department.
Ed’s commitment to the community — particularly to at-risk youth — is demonstrated through his volunteer work as a mentor. Additionally, he has chaired numerous community boards focused on reducing gang activity and drug use in the community.
Ed holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a master’s degree in public administration. He is also a graduate of the 267th Session of the FBI National Academy and the POST Supervisory Leadership Institute.
Chief Varso retired from law enforcement in December 2024 after more than 27 years of service. However, Ed’s commitment to the law-enforcement profession continues as the executive director of the Law Enforcement Charitable Foundation, where he helps local law-enforcement agencies obtain funding for critical safety and training needs. In addition, he teaches community members how to ensure their police departments remain local and independent.
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