Captain Dean Agnoletto assumed the role of Commander of the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station on July 16, 2020, and serves as Palm Desert’s Chief of Police. 

As station Commander is responsible for contracts to provide police services to the City of Palm Desert, City of Indian Wells and the City of Rancho Mirage. Captain Agnoletto has 24 years of law enforcement experience with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. During his career, he has been assigned to SWAT, Gang Task Force, Central Homicide Unit and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Captain Agnoletto started his career as a Reserve Deputy, assigned to the Palm Desert Station. During that time, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Concordia University. After graduation, he was appointed to a full-time position within the Palm Desert Station. In 2012, Agnoletto was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served most of his time assigned to SWAT and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Captain Agnoletto is excited to be returning to the Palm Desert Station and is eager to serve the local communities as their station commander.

The Patrol Division responds to all calls for police service placed to the Department, either through the 911 system, or through non-emergency phones. The patrol deputies handle the initial investigations of thefts, burglaries, robberies, assaults, and all other felony, misdemeanor, and public service calls. Upon completion of the initial investigation, the case is either suspended, continued to the Investigations Division, closed by arrest and referred to the District Attorney for prosecution, or unfounded.

The Palm Desert Police Department supports and promotes the concept of Community Oriented Policing. This is accomplished by the assignment of officers to regular beat assignments, providing state-of-the-art equipment and training, and adequate staffing to handle over 130 calls for service received daily. The Palm Desert Police Department also operates one off-site Police Sub-Station, which is located at 73-520 Fred Waring Drive.  The Sub-Station provides easier access to police services to the residents and business patrons.

The City of Palm Desert is approximately twenty-six square miles, and has an estimated population of 51,509 permanent residents. The Palm Desert Police Department handles over 47,600 calls for service each year.

The Palm Desert Police Contract consists of 80 sworn deputy sheriff's positions. The current sworn officer per 1,000 residents ratio is 1.56. 36 of the 80 positions are dedicated to the patrol division with the remaining deputies dedicated to special assignments such as the Traffic Division, Special Enforcement Team, the Motorcycle Enforcement Unit, K-9 Officer, Business District Team, School Resource Officers, the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force and Narcotics Enforcement. The deputy sheriff's positions are further supported by sworn supervision and administration. The police contract also contains several non-sworn support positions to assist with the daily operation of the station and to support field services. Together, they are able to provide professional service to the citizens of Palm Desert.

The Traffic Division is responsible for the investigation of traffic collisions and conducting traffic enforcement and education programs throughout the city of Palm Desert. The Traffic Division is a contract law enforcement enhancement providing support for the general law enforcement component (Patrol). The Traffic Division consists of a Motorcycle Enforcement Sergeant, six Motorcycle Enforcement Officers, a Collision/DUI Officer, a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer, and two Community Service Officer’s (CSO). 

The Traffic Division provides needed support for patrol officers by handling traffic specific issues that can often become time consuming (such as major traffic accident reconstruction), thereby allowing the patrol division to handle criminal calls for service and conduct proactive enforcement. The Traffic Division provides additional emergency response support to the patrol division during critical incidents. They also routinely conduct traffic safety enforcement programs in various areas of the city. These enforcement programs include, sobriety/drivers’ license checkpoints, distracted driver, seat belt enforcement, DUI warrant sweeps, and court compliance checks. These programs bring public awareness and educate drivers to the dangers of driving under the influence, driving without safety belts, unlawful use of a cellular phone while driving, speeding, and other safety violations.

The city of Palm Desert supports the COVE communities Commercial Vehicle Program, which specifically focuses on commercial vehicles that may be overweight, unsafe, and/or carrying improper loads on roadways. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer handles Vehicle Identification Number (V. I. N.) verifications using state of the art computer software and monitors the tow companies assigned to the Palm Desert Station Tow Contract.  

The Traffic Division is available for ticket sign-offs, VIN verifications, and stored/impound vehicle hearings, Monday through Friday, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. For any traffic related questions or traffic concerns, please call (760) 836-1600.

The Palm Desert Police Special Enforcement Team (SET) is comprised of a sergeant and four (4) officers.  SET conducts time intensive follow up investigations of vehicle burglaries, thefts and various other crimes in order to keep the patrol officers in the field and available for calls for service.  Each beat within the city of Palm Desert is covered by a SET member who can devote additional time, as necessary, to the problems that occur in that specific beat.  

SET is responsible for the city of Palm Desert’s wide range of duties such as crowd and traffic control at city events and concentrated patrol and enforcement for specific problem areas.  SET also addresses quality of life issues within their respective beats, while providing crime prevention programs for the residents of Palm Desert.  Personnel assigned to this unit work in both plain clothes and uniform, while patrolling in unmarked cars and police bicycles.

Their main objective is to reduce lower level criminal activity in their respective beats, initiate programs that eliminate or reduce crime and/or hazards, and interact with the members of the Palm Desert Community.   

The Palm Desert Business District Team (BDT) is comprised of a sergeant and two officers specifically assigned to the business district (30 beat) in the city of Palm Desert.  This area includes the El Paseo shopping district, Highway 111 business corridor, Westfield Mall, Waring Plaza and Desert Crossings. The BDT is responsible for a significant number of criminal investigations that impact the business community, all special enforcement programs within the district, and the majority of commercially related special enforcement programs throughout the city of Palm Desert.  

BDT deputies are community oriented and devote most of their time in addressing immediate problems in order to mitigate a specific issue while keeping public safety at its primary mission. They also provide crime prevention information to businesses and residents in order to maintain a safe environment for businesses to prosper. Personnel assigned to this unit work in both plain clothes and uniform capacity patrolling the streets in unmarked police vehicles, police bicycles and on foot as the needs demand. 

Officer Austin and Officer Castillo are the Community Oriented Policing (COP) Officers, they are assigned to be a liaison to specific beat officers, Neighborhood Watch groups, and the various businesses and apartment complexes within the city. Officer Austin and Officer Castillo oversee the Crime Prevention Program, the Neighborhood Watch Program and the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.

The Palm Desert Police Department Crime Prevention Program operates in conjunction with the Palm Desert Police SET Team. Officer Austin and Officer Castillo are responsible for coordinating the Neighborhood Watch Program, the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and acts as the liaison between SET, the Investigations Unit, citizens, and city staff. Additionally, they provide safety seminars and meetings focusing on specific crime or neighborhood problems in the City of Palm Desert. If you need further information on these programs, or would like to discuss crime prevention issues, please call Officer Austin or Officer Castillo at 836-1600. 

See the Crime Prevention page for helpful tips and information.

The objective of the Palm Desert Police Department’s Investigative Bureau is to provide assistance and service to the city of Palm Desert in order to promote a safe environment for our citizens.  Our main focus is in the area of follow up investigations on major crimes, which are too involved or specialized for the patrol unit to handle.  Our goal is to maintain and develop investigative specialties through training and experience, in order to stay ahead of future trends involving criminal activity.

The Investigations Bureau is comprised of one Sheriff’s Lieutenant, two Sheriff’s Sergeants, and fifteen dedicated Investigators assigned to various specialties, such as robbery, assaults, sex crimes, child abuse, and property crimes, as well as missing persons, runaways, and domestic violence investigations.  These investigators are goal oriented and take pride in their assignment.

The Palm Desert Explorer Post Program is for young persons between the ages 14 and 21. Law Enforcement Exploring is a division of the Boy Scouts of America that gives you a hands on look at what a career in law enforcement is really like.

Community Service

• The Explorer program is a very important community based program that provides educational and practical information to its participants. In return, the Explorers provide a valuable asset to the community by working at special events, such as the 4th of July celebration at Civic Center Park and the annual Golf Cart Parade, as well as assisting deputies on ride-a-longs.

Ride-Along 

• Once you become eligible, you can participate in the ride-a-long program. Explorers assist with searches and traffic control, allowing sworn deputies to respond to more critical assignments.

Meetings 

• The Palm Desert Police Explorer Post meets weekly to discuss Explorer business and upcoming events. The Explorers receive weekly training in a variety of law enforcement related subjects, participate in a week long Explorer Academy at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside, and participate annually in the California Explorer Competition event. Each youth accepted into the Explorer program is registered with The Inland Empire Council of the Learning For Life Program. They are simultaneously processed as a Sheriff's Volunteer and registered with The Emergency Council of Riverside County as a disaster service worker. Several current deputies assigned to stations in the Coachella Valley have been members of Explorer Post 507.

Career Enhancement 

• Participating in a Law Enforcement Explorer Post is a great start to your law enforcement career! Call today and join other dedicated youths in serving their community.

Training

• Training is provided by experts throughout the year and can include the following categories: 

For more information about volunteering with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, visit the Riverside County Sheriff's Volunteer Forces Unit.

The city of Palm Desert funds two School Resource Officer (SRO) positions, one for Palm Desert Charter Middle School (PDCMS) and one for Palm Desert High School (PDHS).  The SRO’s work close with school officials, the Desert Sands Unified School District Campus Security Officers, teachers and students to help create a safe and secure learning environment at each campus.  Through their honest and open communications with students, the SRO’s promote a positive image of law enforcement.  They are often able to prevent problems arising by their close relationship with the students.  

Both SRO’s provide public safety programs on campus to help educate our students and staff regarding issues of “Stranger Danger”, bullying, bicycle safety, internet safety, drug abuse, and the Every 15 Minutes program. 

Every fall, the SRO’s assisted in gathering names for families in need during the holiday season so that the families have an opportunity to participate in the Shop with a Cop program.  The SRO’s are actively assisting in the Palm Desert Youth Court Diversion program which handles non-violent offenses. The SRO’s work closely with the District Attorney’s office and parents to offer community service options that help students give back to their community, and a valuable learning lesson in the workings of the justice system.

Burglary Suppression Unit

The Palm Desert Station Burglary Suppression Unit (BSU) is comprised of a sergeant, four detectives and three deputies. The mission and objective of BSU is to reduce thefts within the jurisdiction of the Palm Desert Station, to include the unincorporated county areas and the contract cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. BSU proactively investigates all burglary related crimes to bring cases to a successful conclusion by apprehending suspects, recovering stolen property, and educating the public on crime prevention. BSU may also investigate other non-burglary related crimes as directed via the chain of command, which require the use of mobile and static surveillance techniques and technologies required in the location and apprehension of suspects.

Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force

The Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force (CVNTF) is a multi-agency task force comprised of members from the Cathedral City Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Riverside County Probation Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Coachella Police Department, La Quinta Police Department and Palm Desert Police Department.  Their mission is to increase public safety by significantly diminishing the availability and sales of illegal drugs in the cities and adjacent un-incorporated areas of Riverside County, and apprehend the responsible offenders.

Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (CVVCGTF) is a multi-agency task force comprised of members from various local law enforcement agencies.  The mission of the CVVCGTF is to allocate resources from all participating agencies for the purpose of promoting safe and secure neighborhoods, free of violent crime and gang violence. Their duties include gang prevention efforts centered on intervention and education, gang suppression patrols and operations, and complex criminal enterprise investigations.  One Palm Desert officer is currently assigned to this team.  

Post Release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT)

The primary mission of PACT is to work with Probation to immediately focus on “high-risk” and “at-large” Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) offenders that pose the most risk to public safety.  PACT will be dedicated to identifying and investigating “non-compliant” PRCS offenders, locating and apprehending “at-large” and “high-risk” PRCS offenders and performing compliance sweeps.  Through sustained, proactive and coordinated investigations, PACT will be able to share information, serve warrants, locate and apprehend PRCS violators and reduce the number of PRCS offenders who abscond.  The support of PACT allows Probation more time and resources to focus on case management and compliance checks.  PACT is currently comprised of TFO’s (Task Force Officers) from Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Cathedral City Police Department, Probation Office, the District Attorney’s Office, along with Riverside County Sheriff’s. 

Forensic Services

The Palm Desert Forensic Services is responsible for proactively responding to residential and commercial burglaries, armed robberies, and similar thefts within the city of Palm Desert.  This forensic services position is intended to perform technical forensic work identifying, collecting, preserving, photographing, interpreting, and comparing fingerprints and other physical evidence at crime scenes and providing professional testimony at criminal trials.