Episode 31: Meet Sheriff Eric Kirsch - Music, Movies, Authenticity & Addiction

In this Getting to Know, Your Local LEO 2-part Episode – you will meet recently elected Sheriff Eric Kirsch, the Sheriff of Wabaunsee County Kansas. He is a former Marine Corps Captain, who completed several active-duty combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his 8-years with Wabaunsee County prior to taking office in 2025, he has served as a deputy, detective, detective sergeant, and undersheriff. He is a husband, father, and one of the most effective social media Sheriff’s you will find. In Part 1 of this 2-part episode, we talk about his previous aspiring music career, the importance of being authentic, and the key factors that led to him relocating to Kansas.We learn about his favorite childhood memory with his Dad, the movie that inspired him to get into law enforcement, and how he overcame self-induced alcoholism. Plus, he shares what may be big surprise to many, about who was his most reliable source of news when he was deployed. If you liked this episode, follow us Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your Podcast, and follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook to get all the latest updates.Plus, check out our other episodes, as each week we share Your Positive Law Enforcement News Stories from across the globe, and in our "Getting to Know, Your Local LEO" episodes, we speak with members of the law enforcement community about everyday life and most things non-law enforcement.To be a guest on our show, share a story, have feedback or suggested questions for future guests, E-mail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠Wabaunsee County (Kansas) Sheriff Eric Kirsch graduated with honors in2004from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, USA.He commissioned as a 2ndLieutenant, United States Marine Corps the same year and was honorably discharged as a Captain after 8 years’ service in 2012.Mr. Kirsch successfully completed training and earned the 0204 MOS, Counterintelligence / Human Source Intelligence Officer designator and served as Human Intelligence Exploitation Team (HET) Officer in Charge during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Afterwards Mr. Kirsch was selected for a clandestine “B-Billet” and successfully graduated from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Joint Counterintelligence Training Academy (JCITA) "Long Course" in 2008, earning the title of “Case Officer” and in 2009 graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy, Glynco, GA earning the title Special Agent, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).Mr. Kirsch was assigned to the NCIS, Washington DC Field Office’s (DCWA)Foreign Counterintelligence “A” Squad and Major Case Response Team & led multiple Offensive Foreign Counterintelligence Operations (OFCO). Mr. Kirsch’s experience includes Marine Corps active duty combat deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2006-2007 & 2008, Operation Enduring Freedom (Helmand Province, Afghanistan) in 2011, DIA Clandestine Tradecraft Instructor in Quantico VA, NCIS Special Agent in Washington DC & serving as advisor to the American Government, and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)as a State Department contractor in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan during the war against ISIS in 2014 & 2015.Eric Kirsch ran unopposed & was elected Sheriff of Wabaunsee County Kansas& took office in 2025. He is extraordinarily lucky to have his beautiful Army Combat Helicopter Pilot turned Lawyer spouse Jessica & beautiful12-year-old daughter Sonja who is a rising champion boxer.