Charitable IB-Born Deputy Sheriff Carlos Vasquez Passes Away

Carlos Vasquez is described by his friends and loved ones as a quiet guy who usually kept his personal life to himself. But his love for Imperial Beach was hard to hide.

“He was an IB guy for life,” said longtime friend and former co-worker Joe Tomaiko. “Carlos loved the city of Imperial Beach. He didn’t leave. Of course, everybody has the opportunity to, but he wanted to come back. He wanted to work in the place where he lived.”

Vasquez worked as a deputy sheriff in IB for five years then joined the Street Narcotics Team in 1997. 

His last line of work was as a detective for the Fugitive Task Force, a position he held until his death on April 12 at the age of 54. He died on the East Coast following a trip to visit his daughter and her husband.

A Mar Vista High School graduate from the class of 1974, Vasquez worked several odd jobs. A series of ride alongs with local deputies made him decide to pursue a career with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The first time Tomaiko met Vasquez was 14 years ago, shortly before he departed for the Street Narcotics Team. 

Vasquez not only gave back to Imperial Beach as a sheriff's deputy but also with community service. Every holiday season, his friend said, Vasquez would anonymously sponsor a needy family and buy them toys, clothes and other gifts.

He was also active in donating toys to charities such like Toys for Tots.

Tomaiko said Vasquez was a good person who didn’t care about notoriety.

“He wasn’t one for the limelight,” Tomaiko said. “He would be the guy in the background that would do the great job, but not be the one to stand up there behind the podium doing a press conference or saying look at me, look what I did.”

Vasquez is survived by his wife of 35 years, Diana; son, Charlie; and daughter, Corby.

 A memorial was held for Vasquez at Veteran’s Park on April 19, a day that Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney proclaimed Carlos Vasquez Day.