He moved to Palm Springs with his family at the age of four, went to Katherine Finchy, Cahuilla and Cielo Vista Elementary schools, Nellie Coffman Jr. High and Palm Springs High School. He earned an AA degree in Police Science from College of the Desert and went on to graduate magna cum laude with a BBA in Business Management from National University. He is also a Dean’s List graduate of the Southern Police Institute, a distinguished leadership school, at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Palm Springs Police Career
Lee has spent the majority of his 59 years in Palm Springs...32 of those years serving on the Palm Springs Police Department. During his career, he had some amazing assignments and experiences. As a charter member of the City's SWAT team, he has repelled from the roof tops of Desert Hospital…he has taken countless treks by horseback and helicopter into our local mountains to rescue injured hikers... and Lee has even delivered a baby at the scene of a police call. As the Chief, he brought Community Policing to the resort city and created the Police Advisory Committee to better stay in touch with the resident's, neighborhood’s and visitor's needs.
When Lee retired from the Police Department in 2002, he was looking forward to pursuing more sedate past times such as golf. But now he is raising 4-and-5-year-old sons with his wife Marie and is working as an executive overseeing 500 employees for an international security company.
Military Service
Lee Weigel does not shy away from the challenges of life. He is a veteran who served in the Navy from 1966 to 1970. He did three tours of duty to Vietnam launching jets from the deck of an aircraft carrier. During that time he rose to the rank of non-commissioned officer and the position of Assistant Catapult Captain, one of the most dangerous positions aboard an aircraft carrier.
Community Service
He has been active for many years on a number of local boards and charities; some most near and dear to his heart include: the Executive Board of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and The Executive Board of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.
