A Big Point of View

On the Border

jb blocker

 

Sheriff Leon Wilmot

Yuma County, Arizona

Jim Pond, Leon Wilmot, J.B.Blocker, Kieran Donahue

  I've got to admit, God is good! And once again I randomly get seated next to someone I really like who happens to know first hand what we all wonder about the border issues. I am definitely grateful to add him as a trusted resource.

  Leon tolerated my questions for several days and gave me astute responses with ground floor awareness.

  The big man with the soft eyes and gentle style has literally been there, done that along the Arizona/California /Mexico border all his life save for a 4 year stint in the Marines. 

  The big drugs, the baddest criminals, by land, sea, and air. On the water, under the water.    This sheriff has studied, lead, and taught about their constant border issues.

  I plan on keeping up with this sheriff as a trusted and available sharer of the truth as I move toward a comprehensive report from the 31 US/Mex Border sheriffs. Even better! I want to keep him as a friend.

  Among around 200 law enforcement representatives on county, state, and federal levels, the Arizona host sheriffs and deputies gave us the 1st hand reality of enforcing around a border population like the city of Naco surrounded farms, ranches, and deserts.

  There are incredibly dedicated, educated, responsible people on the front lines. It is the bureaucracy getting in the way. I met them from every point in the country. They came to find common grounds and share insights and experience.  Meet Sheriff Leon Wilmot.

Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot is currently the President of the Arizona Sheriffs Association. 

  He began his career in law enforcement in 1985 as a Reserve Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, after completing four years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a full time deputy on July 11, 1987, Wilmot’s first job as a public safety deputy was the start of a 27 year career of public service.


Expanding his resume two short years later, Wilmot was assigned to the Boating Safety Bureau for the next few years. In 1991, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division where he was responsible for major crimes investigations. On January 5, 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Corporal and placed in charge of the Foothills District and the Boating Safety and Enforcement Unit.

On April 7, 1996, he was promoted to Public Safety Sergeant and was placed in charge of the Boating Safety and Enforcement Unit operations. On January 6, 1997, he was promoted again, this time to Bureau Commander of the Criminal Investigations Unit where he supervised the Major Crimes Unit, the Methamphetamine Enforcement Unit and the deputies assigned to the Southwest Border Alliance Unit.

On April 19, 1998, he was promoted to the rank Public Safety Lieutenant and was assigned the supervision of all the Sheriff's Office support units--Evidence, Communications, Fleet Management, Criminal Investigations Bureau and Emergency Operations Center. His next promotion came on September 3, 2001 to the rank of Public Safety Captain to oversee the Sheriff's Office Patrol Bureau, charged with oversight of all patrol related activities. On February 22, 2004, he was promoted to Chief Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and served in that position until his retirement in September 2012. He successfully campaigned for the office of Sheriff of Yuma County in 2012 and took the oath of office in January 2013.

Some of his professional accomplishments as Chief Deputy include the restructuring of the Southwest Border Alliance drug task force to the newly formed Yuma County Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Wilmot was also instrumental in overseeing the restructuring of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse and is currently working on a Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement between Imperial County California and Yuma County.

Sheriff Wilmot’s law enforcement education is expansive--graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in 1994, the FBI National Academy in 2000, the Drug Enforcement Administration Supervisor’s Course in 2005, and the National Sheriffs' Institute 106th Session, Executive Level Management Education and Training in 2014. In addition, he has also attained the Professional Development designation through the Federal Emergency Management Agency by taking leadership classes in Emergency Management. In 2007, he completed the Certified Public Manager program through the Arizona State University.

Sheriff Wilmot is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Arizona County Attorneys and Sheriffs Association, Arizona Sheriffs Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, Policía Internacional Arizona-Sonora, Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition and Western States Sheriffs Association. Sheriff Wilmot is currently serving as the President of the Arizona County Attorney's and Sheriff's Association; the Vice President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association; and the Treasurer of the Southwest Border Sheriffs' Coalition. In April 2013, Sheriff Wilmot was appointed to the National Sheriffs’ Association Immigration & Border Security Committee, succeeding Sheriff Larry Dever, who was killed in a single-vehicle accident on September 18, 2012.

In 2009, he was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to the Arizona Department of Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council for the South Region. On July 1, 2012, Wilmot was reappointed by the Governor to this position. Sheriff Wilmot was also appointed by Governor Brewer to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety “Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement” committee.

In addition, Sheriff Wilmot is a member of numerous local organizations including the Amberly’s Place Executive Board, American Legion, Post 19, Arizona Town Hall, Caballeros de Yuma, Emergency Management Advisory Council, Local Area Planning Committee, Select Council on Progressive Enforcement, Yuma Area Ag Council, Yuma Masonic Lodge #17, Yuma MatchMasters, and the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club to name a few.

Leon Wilmot is married to Ruth Wilmot who has taught for 30 years with the Yuma School District #1. One of his hobbies is restoring old cars. His most recent project was the restoration of a 1929 Model "A", Model 290A standard police vehicle for which he won first place in the 2010 Police Vehicle Design Contest, "Best Vintage Police Cars" category.