Undersheriff Dicus appointed to serve remainder of Sheriff McMahon’s term

The next sheriff’s election will be held in June 2022.

On Wednesday, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Undersheriff Shannon Dicus to serve as San Bernardino County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator during the remaining 18 months of retiring Sheriff John McMahon’s final term in office.

McMahon had announced last month that he would retire on July 16 after 36 years of service.

By law, the five-member board had to appoint a successor to McMahon after it determined that holding a special election to fill the position wasn’t practical.

“Undersheriff Dicus has been with the Sheriff’s Department for 30 years and clearly led the field of applicants in experience and knowledge,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “He has overseen or served within virtually every division in the department. This county must have someone who is ready to step into the role of sheriff in nine days.”

Dicus joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1991 after serving in the U.S. Army as a military police officer and with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police in Loma Linda.

As undersheriff, Dicus oversees the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Department as well as the Internal Affairs, Civil Liabilities, and Bureau of Administration divisions.

Dicus has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State San Bernardino and a Master’s Degree in Communications from Cal Baptist University.