Daniel Gonzales was born in Southern CA and moved to Nevada in 1996.  In 2003, Daniel moved to Carson City and attended the Western Nevada Police Academy, where he graduated as the class salutatorian.  Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is scheduled to graduate from the University of Virginia in March 2026 with a Master’s degree in Public Safety.

 In September of 2003, Daniel was sworn in by Sheriff Furlong as a Deputy with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office.  Daniel was assigned to the Detention facility for almost a year before transferring to the patrol division.  While assigned to the patrol division, Daniel served as a field training officer (FTO), gang enforcement officer, and Bike Officer, and worked on street-level narcotics with the newly formed SET team.  Daniel received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D) award and the Speed Enforcement award.  In 2005, he was selected for the Department’s SWAT team and assigned as a Sniper.  Also, in 2005, Sheriff Furlong selected Daniel and another Deputy to launch the Department’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIT), and in 2006, the Reno Police Department recognized Daniel as the CIT Officer of the Year.  In 2006 Daniel was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)

In 2007, Daniel was selected to join the Investigations Division, where he was assigned as a general detective with an emphasis on gang enforcement.  During his 5 years in Investigations, Daniel developed and launched the cellular forensic examination program and served as the executive adviser for the department’s explorer/cadet program.  Daniel also supervised the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) program.  Daniel would co-teach alcohol server courses to local businesses.  He would also train other Northern Nevada Law enforcement agencies on proper compliance checks.  Because of the department's dedication to this program, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office was recognized as Agency of the Year in 2009 by the Department of Juvenile Justice.  In 2008, Daniel was selected as the Deputy Adviser of the Reserve Deputy program.  One of Daniel’s most notable cases was being assigned as the co-lead investigator for the Ihop mass shooting.

 In 2012, Sheriff Furlong promoted Daniel to Sergeant, and Daniel was transferred back to the Detention Division.  While assigned to the Detention Division, Daniel oversaw the trustee program and classifications and helped launch the FASTT program, which brought mental health services to those incarcerated in the Carson City Jail.  Daniel was also selected as the commander of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and to conduct Internal Affairs Investigations.

In 2015, Sheriff Furlong selected Daniel to oversee the Special Operations Division, which includes the Special Enforcement Team (SET), the Tri-Net Task Force officer, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force officer under the Investigations Division.  Daniel was then tasked to establish an Officer Involved Shooting Protocol, which Daniel used while he was assigned as the lead supervisor on three of the Douglas County Officer Involved shooting incidents.  While assigned to the Investigations division, Daniel oversaw the creation of the Department’s Hazardous response team, which was tasked with dismantling drug labs in the area.  

In 2019, Daniel was promoted to Captain and assigned to oversee the Investigations Division.  Daniel oversaw the division’s two sergeants, general detectives, special operations, including SET, the Tri-net task force officer, the FBI Safe Street Officer, the crime lab, and the evidence vault.  Daniel also oversaw all Internal Affairs investigations.

In 2022, Daniel was again promoted and was appointed by Sheriff Furlong as the Assistant Sheriff of Administration.  Daniel oversees those activities that are most directly associated with a Sheriff’s Office that falls under NRS 248.050.  These include the Detention Division, Communications/Dispatch, Civil and Records, Volunteers in Police Services, the Chaplains Program, and all the department’s Volunteers, including Search and Rescue.

In 2024, Daniel was selected to attend the FBI National Academy, class 290.  The FBI National Academy is a 10-week professional course of study for senior law enforcement managers, both in the US and internationally.  It is a prestigious, world-renowned law enforcement training program located at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Away from work, Daniel spends time with his wife of 20 years and their 5 children.  Daniel is active in youth sports and numerous community fundraising efforts.  Daniel and his wife started the holiday with a hero program in 2005.  Holiday With a Hero, a partnership between the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Fire Department, and the Carson City School District, helps underprivileged children in Carson City have a proper Christmas.  The program pairs first responders and other community volunteers with students in need for an annual Christmas shopping spree.  Many students who qualify for the program live in cars, in campgrounds, motels, or double up with other families.