Sgt. John Doyle - Traffic Team Supervisor

Sgt. John Doyle is the Motorcycle Enforcement Team Supervisor. He is a 10 year veteran of the Department, with over 19 years of law enforcement experience. Sgt. Doyle recently spent 5 years at the Sheriff's Training Center where he was responsible for the Department's driver training, including the Simulator Program. Prior to that assignment, he spent several years on the La Quinta Traffic Team.

Sgt. Doyle is an accident reconstruction expert. He is also a certified driving instructor, radar/lidar instructor, traffic collision investigation instructor, and firearms instructor.

Sergeant Mark Martello is the Traffic Team Supervisor. A 13-year veteran of the Department and a Palm Desert native, he is a graduate of The College of Idaho and holds a graduate certificate from the University of South Carolina. Prior to his present assignment, he worked in corrections and was a field training officer. Sergeant Martello has experience in civil liability and internal affairs investigations in addition to serving the communities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells.

Officer Sergio Alcala - Motor Officer

Officer Sergio Alcala has been a member of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for twelve years. He began his career in the Indio Jail and was then assigned to the Palm Desert Station where he worked patrol. Officer Alcala worked various contract cities and was made a Training Officer in 2001. In 2003 Officer Alcala joined the Palm Desert Traffic Team as a Accident Investigation officer. About a year later Officer Alcala was assigned to the position of Motor Officer within the traffic team. He recently graduated from an Advanced Accident Investigation course.

If you have any questions regarding the Palm Desert Police Motorcycle Enforcement Team, you can reach Officer Alcala by email at salcala@riversidesheriff.org or by phoning (760) 836-1728.

Officer LaFond has been with the Riverside County Sheriff Department since 2002. Prior to joining our department, he served 5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military SWAT instructor and anti-armor platoon Sergeant. After graduating our academy, he was assigned to the Palm Desert Sheriff Station where he patrolled the unincorporated areas of Desert Hot Springs, Thousand Palms, and the cities of Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. Officer LaFond was assigned to the Palm Desert Police Traffic Team as a Motor Officer in 2004. Since then, he has completed basic traffic collision school and has enrolled to attend intermediate and advanced collision courses.

If you have any questions regarding the Palm Desert Police Motorcycle Team, you can contact him at 836-1671 or e-mail him at klafond@riversidesheriff.org

Officer Ralph Leal has been a member of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for 12 years. He began his career working in the Riverside County Jail in Indio, and was then assigned to the Palm Desert Station working patrol. Officer Leal has worked various contract cities and was made a Field Training Officer in 2000. In 2002 Officer Leal joined the Palm Desert Traffic Team as an Accident Investigation Officer. Officer Leal has completed Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Reconstruction collision courses, and is one of the lead investigators for major traffic collision investigations. In 2007, he was assigned to the position of Motor Officer within the Traffic division.

If you have any questions regarding the Palm Desert Police Motorcycle Enforcement Team, you can reach Officer Leal by email at rleal@riversidesheriff.org or by phoning (760) 836-1726.

Officer Aaron Hermanson has been a member of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for eight years. He began his career in the Indio Jail and was then assigned to the Palm Desert Station where he worked patrol and was certified as a traffic collision investigator. In 2007, Officer Hermanson was assigned to the position of Motor Officer within the traffic team.

If you have any questions regarding the Palm Desert Police Motorcycle Enforcement Team, you can reach Officer Hermanson by email at ajherman@riversidesheriff.org or by phoning (760) 836-1725.

Rick is a 27-year veteran of the department. He is accident reconstruction certified, and heads our Commercial Vehicle Unit. The Commercial Vehicle Unit focuses on commercial vehicles that are overweight and/or carrying improper loads on the roadways within the Cove Communities. He also handles V.I.N. verifications using state of the art computer software. Rick handles the citation sign off duties; Monday-Friday from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the Palm Desert Station.

If you need a V.I.N. Verification, e-mail rkothlow@riversidesheriff.org to set an appointment.

The Palm Desert Police Traffic Team routinely conducts 'Traffic Safey' checkpoints in various areas of the city. These checkpoints bring public awareness to the dangers of driving without seat belts and other safety violations. A recent checkpoint had hundreds of vehicles pass through with deputies stopping 150 of them for visible safety violations. Approximately 60 of these 150 vehicles were cited for not wearing their seat belts and other vehicle code violations. Local media covered the event, which was a resounding success.