RIVERSIDE, Oct. 5 – A former Los Angeles police department Medal of Valor winner and Palm Springs police officer will begin work Thursday for the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.

Det. Ed Williams left his post Friday as fugitive warrants detective and become an investigator in the district attorney’s office in Indio.

He has been the recipient of more than 50 awards for bravery and competence. With the Los Angeles police department he worked as an investigator on the Charles Manson case and helped develop the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team for that department.

The Medal of Valor was awarded because “under heavy automatic weapon fire, shot seven times himself, he pulled another wounded officer to safety.”

While with the local police department he served fugitive warrants from all courts on suspects in the Palm Springs area. Also, he was team detective for Squad 7, Field Operations Division, headed by Sgt. Mike McCrary.

In that capacity he handled all crime incidents and investigated leads generated by the squad. He also served as liaison between Field Operations and Investigations Division.

His outside activities include serving as squadron commander for the Palm Springs chapter of the Civil Kit Patrol and taking care of his wife, Cindy and son, Robbie.

Williams’ new job was described by Det. Lt. Thomas Aitken of the police department as “a step up in his continuing career.”