Ernesto Alvarado Licensed Clinician & GVPD Officer
Ernesto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the field of social work. He is also currently a member of the Grass Valley Police Department as a sworn Officer and, separately, provides clinical crisis intervention as a Psychiatric Response Team member at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
He was born and raised in Butte County, where he lived on an almond farm helping his parents tend to their family owned and operated Almond and Walnut farm until he relocated to the Pacific Northwest in late 2001. During his teenage and early adult years, he was a performing musician where he spent a significant duration of his time playing locally as well as nationally while on tour. In early adulthood, he was employed as direct care service provider at a Residential Treatment Facility supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. This began his long journey within the social work field.
He graduated from California State University, Chico with his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2010 and obtained his master’s degree in social work from California State University, Chico in 2012. In his post graduate degree he worked in various social work settings including Transitional Age Youth homeless services as a case manager and therapist, the Child Welfare Services system as a clinical case manager, the Adult Protective Services system as a clinical case manager, and Clinical crisis intervention in a hospital setting. The most influential moment in his career began when he took part in the development of the Nevada County Sherifs Office Mobile Crisis Team pilot program as a mental health clinician before deciding to attend the Yuba College Police Academy in 2022. He completed the Police Academy in 2023 and obtained full clinical licensure in 2025. Over the past few years, Ernesto has had the role of Patrol Officer, crisis specialist, Crisis Negotiations Team negotiator, and is also a certified Child Forensic Interviewer. Recently he has been appointed as an Outreach Liaison Officer, specifically assisting individuals in the community in need of homeless outreach, mental health, and substance abuse related services and recipients of the Post Release Community Supervision program, which is supported by Community Corrections Partnership Funding.
In his free time, he enjoys spending quality time with his son and spouse, traveling, reading, continuing to learn, playing, and watching soccer with his family, and creating music with friends.
