Matthew A.
Buckley
Former Deputy Sheriff.
Author. Speaker.
Helping others reclaim direction in life
I rebuilt my life from the wreckage of my own choices. Now my mission is to serve those who serve others—first responders, leaders, and everyday people fighting silent battles—by offering real strategies and real hope for reclaiming direction in life.
LIFE EXPERIENCE
- 20 + years First Responder
- Sober since 2019
- Drug free since 2022
AWARDS
- 2019 Officer of the Year
- Chief’s Special Investigator Award
- 4x Deputy of the Month
AUTHOR & SPEAKER
- Book: Ditch the Drift
THE STORY
Matthew Buckley knows what it feels like to lose everything—and fight to get it back.
For 15 years, he served as a Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff. In 2019, he was named Officer of the Year and assigned to the C.A.S.E. Task Force—a multi-agency anti-violence investigative strike team. He was at the peak of his career.
Then it all unraveled.
While battling financial hardships, his son Lucas battled severe pediatric ulcerative colitis and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, all while Matthew worked long nights on an unpredictable schedule. Instead of seeking help and dealing with issues, Matthew numbed the pain with alcohol, drugs, and avoidance. His career, marriage, and relationships began to collapse.
What followed was an apocalyptic fall: a public arrest by his own agency, accusations of evidence theft, and headlines across Northern California.
Though innocent of the most serious charges, Matthew owns his part: “It was still all my fault. I had stopped living with intention. I drifted. I became a rag doll tossed by life’s chaos.”
Today, Matthew has rebuilt from the ground up. He is healthy, resilient, and on a mission.
In Ditch the Drift, he shares what no one talks about: how subtle drift can crush your soul even after you’ve “found” your purpose. Drawing from his raw journey—from badge to brink and back—Matthew delivers unfiltered truths and battle-tested strategies for reclaiming an intentional life.
This isn’t theory. It’s success forged in fire.
WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK
I wrote Ditch the Drift because I needed it myself—and couldn’t find it anywhere.
After hitting my lowest point, I searched for something real. Not motivational fluff. Not empty platitudes. I needed a roadmap from someone who had actually been in the trenches. But there wasn’t one, at least not one I could find.
This book is what I wish I’d had during my darkest days. It’s for first responders, leaders, veterans, and anyone who senses they’re drifting through life on autopilot.
My story is one of rock bottom to redemption.
This book is your roadmap out.
BOOK MATTHEW TO SPEAK
Matthew shares his story and strategies with organizations, first responder groups, leadership teams, and conferences nationwide. His talks are raw, authentic, and actionable—designed to spark real change.
Speaking topics include:
• Recognizing and escaping the drift in your personal and professional life
• Rebuilding after public failure and personal crisis
• Intentional living for high-stress professions
• Leadership, resilience, and reclaiming purpose