Former Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Captain Dale Mondary retired as captain of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station in June to take over as chief of police in Desert Hot Springs. Wednesday evening, Captain Mondary sent an open letter to the residents of the Morongo Basin, explaining his decision, and giving them credit for a major part of his success. Captain Mondary spoke with Z107.7 by phone and gave a synopsis of his letter…
This letter is a bit over due, but something I have had on my list of things to do since announcing my retirement from the Sheriff’s Department and as the Captain for the Morongo Basin Station. I have had a number of people ask me why I retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to take the position of Chief of Police at Desert Hot Springs. There is not one simple answer to that question but in a nutshell it was to accept a new challenge. In 1990 I left a stable job as a Police Officer in Kansas to move to California because I felt I had accomplished all I could at that time Department. In 1991, within a year of starting with the Sheriff’s Department I requested a transfer from the Sheriff to the Morongo Basin. Many people I worked with in Rancho Cucamonga and where I lived in Victorville, asked me the same question that many of you asked me, “Why would you want to work there?” I requested the change as another challenge in my life, to better my family and my career and I believe the decision to make my home here in the Morongo Basin turned out to be correct. Just as I believe my recent decision to challenge myself again will turn out to be correct. While not everyone agreed with decisions I made as the Sheriff’s Captain I made them with the best intentions and I believe that I was able to make a difference in the Sheriff’s Department and in the Morongo Basin as a whole. I enjoyed being active in the community, through Rotary, Kiwanians, Pelicans, the Little League and High School sports and the D.A.R.E. program I hope I was able to assist the community and in some way make things a little better for an individual person and the community as a whole. The success I had was not mine alone, it was a result of the support that I had from many of you in the community. I had the opportunity to work with excellent City Managers in Curtis Yakimow, Frank Luckino, and Andy Takata as well as Morongo Valley CSD Director Donna Munoz, not to mention the Town and City Councils, the MAC and CSD boards. You were all very helpful to me, gave me good advice and guidance over the years and were supportive of not only me but the Sheriff’s Department as a whole. I also want to thank members of the media, especially Cindy Melland, Stacy Moore and Kurt Schauppner of Hi Desert Publishing, as well as Gary and Cindy Daigneault and Tami Roleff at Z107.7. At times I know you were frustrated with me for not releasing more information on specific incidents but you always respected the need for confidentiality and sensitivity to victims of crime. You helped us solve numerous crimes and always treated me fairly. Lastly I want to thank the citizens of the Morongo Basin who were a major factor in my success. Your involvement with your community, your concern about crime and quality of life issues and the care that you showed me and my family can never be repaid. I encourage you to remain vigilant and involved in the community and as supportive of Captain Jeff Joling as you were to me. I am not moving on to greener pastures, I am moving on to browner pastures (we are in a drought in the desert after all) but I will continue to live in the Basin and remain as involved in the community as I can and I hope you continue to extend invitations to me to attend meetings and events. After all, no matter where I go or what I do the Morongo Basin will always remain my home.
Dale Mondary, Chief of Police, Desert Hot Springs.
