The Sheriff’s captain of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station, and the chief of police for Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms, was the guest on the Up Close Show Friday (February 26). Captain Luke Niles discussed many topics related to law enforcement during the show. Managing editor Tami Roleff says Niles started the show by reassuring residents that the Morongo Basin is a relatively safe place to live…
“The communities out here are wonderful.”
Sheriff’s Captain Luke Niles has been in charge of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station for about a year now, but he’s been a resident here since 2002, when he got out of the Marine Corps. Niles said the Morongo Basin has relatively few serious crimes, which include homicide, rape, robbery, and arson (among others).
“In the grand scheme of things … the Morongo Basin is a relatively safe community, always has been. But we do fluctuate with a lot of the property crimes and unfortunately, crimes against person—assaults, things of that nature…. Those assaults tend to be suspects with known victims. They’re not random crimes.”
Niles said the Morongo Basin is doing better than the numbers suggest, due to a high number of tourists who visit our area, thus increasing our population.
The biggest challenges from tourists are that they often get lost or disoriented in our area, which requires a search and rescue call.
“They follow the GPS until they’re stuck.”
While the search and rescue calls can be critical during the hot months, the deputies generally enjoy their contacts with the tourists.
“We get to meet them, talk to them, give them directions, and tell them wonderful places to eat.”
