The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station has a new Lieutenant Sheriff to take over for Lieutenant Brad Toms. Lieutenant Russ Wilkes took over about two weeks ago. Wilkes joined the Sheriff’s Department 26 years ago, and worked for the department for a few years before transferring to the county Marshal’s system. In 1999, Wilkes transferred back to the Sheriff’s Department. During the following years, Wilkes spent time in numerous units, including one year in the Morongo Basin as he supervised a narcotics unit. He also worked in corrections, internal affairs, SWAT, protection for dignitaries and other county residents who were threatened by criminals, and, for the last two years, he managed the County’s inmate population to ensure the County was compliant with state law AB109, the Prisoner Realignment Act. Lieutenant Brad Toms was transferred to the Sheriff’s public affairs unit in San Bernardino.
