Lieutenant Eric McBride began his career with the San Bernardino Police Department in 1991 after serving 6 ½ years in the United States Marine Corps. After graduating from the San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy he was assigned to the patrol division. While assigned to patrol his assignments included Problem Oriented Policing, Field Training Officer, and Honor Guard. In 1999, he was transferred to the Investigations Division where he was assigned to the Multiple Enforcement Team (MET), where his duties included SWAT and gang investigation. While assigned to MET he was also assigned temporary duty as one of the first members of the department's graffiti task force. In 2002, he was promoted to detective and was reassigned to the Narcotics Bureau, while still maintaining an auxiliary assignment on the SWAT team.  In 2004, he was promoted to sergeant and again returned to the patrol division as a supervisor and assisted in the supervision of the field training program. In 2009, he was transferred to the Internal Affairs unit and served as the unit's supervisor until his promotion to lieutenant in 2011. During his career he has been an instructor in defensive tactics, handgun, submachine gun, Taser, and tactical communications.

Lieutenant McBride has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science with an emphasis on public administration from California Baptist University and is currently finishing coursework for a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from Troy University.

He is currently assigned to the patrol division as the Southeast district commander.