Mele Reorganizes Sheriff’s Office

By Bill Johnson Published Jun 25, 2008 05:45 pm Updated Jan 31, 2009 01:36 pm

Sonora, Ca — Keith Lunney has been promoted to the position of Tuolumne County Undersheriff, and will now serve as second in command to Sheriff Jim Mele.

Lunney has served as a peace officer for 28 years and has been with the Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Office for the past 22. Mele says that Lunney has experience working in all divisions of the department and has most recently been assigned as the Operations Bureau Commander. The Undersheriff position has been vacant since July of last year following the resignation of Lee Sanford.

Capt. Michael Bailey will move from the Support Services Bureau over to Operations to replace Lunney. Lt. George Ruckman has been selected to be the new Detective Division Commander, and will head the General Investigations Unit and the Tuolumne Narcotics Team.

Lt. Dan Bressler will be re-assigned to the position of Field Operations Division Commander and be responsible for street and boat patrol operations.

Written by BJ Hansen