SCV Sheriff - News Room

Barricaded Murder Suspect **UPDATE**

Thursday - June 11, 2009 - 3:41 p.m. - **UPDATE**
Unincorporated Los Angeles County - Gorman
49700 Block of Gorman Post Road, Gorman
Victim: Female Adult 

A man wanted for questioning in connection with a murder that occurred in Kansas on Monday, June 8, 2009, was located at a motel in Gorman after a standoff with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies and crisis negotiators Thursday, June 11, 2009.

The incident began when a California Highway Patrol officer, while driving through the parking lot of a motel in Gorman, conducted an inquiry for an Oklahoma license plate on a 2000 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck.  The inquiry returned with a murder warrant from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department/Fairway Police Department in Kansas for Franklin L. Grammer, Jr.  The officer confirmed with motel management that the suspect named in the warrant was indeed registered at the motel.

The officer requested assistance from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  At approximately 7:00 a.m. sheriff's deputies contained the location and ordered the suspect to surrender.  When Grammer refused to come out of his room a Sheriff's Special Weapons Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the motel regarding a barricaded suspect.

Crisis Negotiations Team personnel were able to make telephone contact with Grammer and communicated with him for several hours.  Grammer hung up on negotiators at approximately 12:36 p.m.  When negotiators were unable to establish any further communication after approximately 2 and 1/2 hours, a Special Weapons Team Introduced tear gas into Grammer's motel room with no response.  A Special Weapons Team made entry into the room and discovered Grammer, in bed, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body.  He was transported by Air Rescue-5 to a trauma hospital where he is listed in critical condition.  A firearm was recovered at the scene.  It is unknown if it is the murder weapon.  Grammer's two dogs, who were with him in the motel Room, were not injured.  No deputies were injured.

The investigation into both incidents is continuing.  There is no additional information at this time. -ref SHB-166-June 11, 2009-Sgt. Diane Hecht

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release or media inquiries, contact Sergeant Darren Harris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 799-5814.

Barricaded Murder Suspect

Thursday - June 11, 2009 - 7:00 a.m. -
Unincorporated Los Angeles County - Gorman
49700 Block of Gorman Post Road, Gorman
Victim: Female Adult 

While driving through the parking lot of a local motel, a California Highway Patrol officer conducted an inquiry regarding the license plate of a car parked in the lot.  The query returned with an outstanding murder warrant out of Kansas City, Kansas, dated June 8, 2009.  The officer confirmed with management that the suspect named on the warrant is registered at the motel.  The officer requested assistance from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  After containing the location, personnel requested the suspect to exit, but he refused.  He is currently barricaded in a motel room.  It is unknown if he is armed.  A Special Weapons Team and Crisis Negotiation Team are at the location. 

The investigation is ongoing and is currently being conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Special Enforcement Bureau and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. Anyone with any information should contact Sergeant Darren Harris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 510-1827 or Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 526-5541.  There is no additional information at this time. -ref SHB-166-June 11, 2009

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release or media inquiries, contact Sergeant Darren Harris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 510-1827.

Death Investigation - ANF

Saturday - May 30, 2009 - 12:27 a.m. 
Unincorporated Los Angeles County 
Angeles National Forest 

Sheriff's Homicide Detectives responded to the Interstate (5) Freeway and Templin Highway, Angeles National Forest, early this morning to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a male adult.   

The investigation is ongoing and is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Homicide Bureau.  Anyone with any information should contact them at (323) 890-5500 or Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 526-5541.  There is no further information available at this time. -ref SHB-152-May 30, 2009

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 526-5541.

Fatal Traffic Collision - Canyon Country

Friday - May 29, 2009 - 3:45 p.m. - Canyon Country:

A fatal traffic collision occurred this afternoon on Sand Canyon Road south of the 14 Freeway.  Deputies from the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station and the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the location and reports of a vehicle collision involving two vehicles.  One of the vehicles was a motorcycle being driven by a male white adult.  The male was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The driver of the other vehicle suffered major injuries and was also transported to the hospital.  She is currently listed in stable condition. 

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Traffic Office is continuing their investigation.  Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, and has not yet talked to deputies, should contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 255-1121.  The names of those involved in the collision have not yet been released.  There is no further information at this time.

Did you know that last year, there were 50 traffic collisions involving motorcycles in our City with 10% resulting in a fatality? That’s a 39% increase over the previous year and way too many! It’s a fact that motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in a traffic collision than someone riding in a car.

In an effort to reduce the number motorcycle-related accidents and fatalities, the City of Santa Clarita - Mayor Frank Ferry and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station launched a motorcycle safety campaign several months ago.  For motorcycle related facts, training classes, safety information, and even a safety video featuring your Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Motorcycle Deputies, visit the following link:  Motorcycle Safety Program 

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Operation Aims At SCV Gangs

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley: Mid-Week Operation Targets Active SCV Gang Members -

As part of the ongoing effort to deter and combat gang related crime and activity in the Santa Clarita Valley, several law enforcement personnel from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Detective Bureau, the City of Santa Clarita/Sheriff's COBRA Unit and the Community Interaction Team (CIT), joined in partnership with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Probation, to carry out a targeted gang enforcement operation in Santa Clarita Wednesday.

The personnel hit the streets and sixteen locations in the Canyon Country, Newhall and Castaic areas where active gang members are known to reside.  Each location was searched resulting in several detentions of known gang members.  The extensive and coordinated effort was just another in a series of such operations being carried out by law enforcement officials in the Santa Clarita Valley dating back to last summer.  Deputies and other officials are working hard to keep close tabs on suspected and known gang members in an effort to curb gang activity, violence, graffiti, and crimes associated with gang participation; such as drug sales and weapons possession.  Refer to a previous operation at the following link: Operation Community Shield Hits SCV Gangs.  

Wednesday's operation resulted in the detention of four juveniles and four adults who are known active foreign national gang members.  All the gang members were transported to downtown Los Angeles by ICE officials where they will face immigration proceedings.  All told, the deputies made 13 arrests or detentions during the operation resulting in new charges on three individuals for possession of ammunition, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of forged identification information. 

ICE's joint enforcement activities with the Sheriff’s Department are part of the agency’s ongoing anti-gang initiative known as Operation Community Shield. Through Operation Community Shield, launched in 2005, ICE is using its powerful immigration and customs authorities in a coordinated, national campaign against criminal street gangs in the United States. As part of the effort, ICE partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to arrest, prosecute, imprison and/or deport transnational gang members.   

The investigations are ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. 

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement questions can be directed to ICE Public Affairs at (949) 360-3096. 

Another Crime Solved by SCV Sheriffs!

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley!  Another Crime Solved!  Shooting Suspect Michael Ray Garcia Behind Bars In Mesa Arizona After Extensive Investigation And Tracking.   

Detectives from the City of Santa Clarita/Sheriff's COBRA Unit have been actively investigating a shooting incident which occurred on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 near Whites Canyon Road and Pleasantdale Street, Canyon Country.  Refer to the original press release at the following link: Shooting Investigation - Canyon Country and a second release posted on April 9th, 2009 at this link: Shooting Suspect Identified.

On Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 the COBRA Unit joined forces with the Community Interaction Team (CIT) and served a search warrant in the 23000 block of Via Gayo, Valencia, at 9:30 a.m.  Although detectives missed the suspected shooter on that day, they recovered a 9mm handgun and the vehicle, 1994 Infinity - white in color, they believe were used in the commission of the crime.  They also recovered eight rifles and a second handgun at the location.  

At that time, detectives identified the suspected shooter as Michael Ray Garcia, MH/25, of Valencia.  Garcia, a suspected gang member on active felony parole for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, has been on the run since that day, but not any longer!  Garcia was taken into custody without incident just after 2:30 p.m. last Thursday afternoon, May 21, 2009 at the residence of a relative in Mesa Arizona.    

Detectives from the COBRA Team had been working closely with other outside entities and resources of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, including the Department's Major Crimes Bureau in their direct role with the United States Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, to track Garcia down.  That hard work paid off when representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department joined United States Marshals and the Mesa Police Department to apprehend Garcia.   

Garcia was booked at the Maricopa County Jail on a felony Parole Violation and is being held without bail pending extradition back to Santa Clarita where he is expected to face at least two felony counts of Attempted Murder. 

"One thing is certain, Garcia won't victimize any other Santa Clarita Valley residents again any time soon," said Captain Anthony La Berge of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  "It is definitely reassuring to our community to know he is behind bars.  He learned the hard way after more than a month on the run that we aren't going away.  Commit crime in the Santa Clarita Valley and we will track you down no matter what it takes," concluded La Berge.          

To view or print the entire law enforcement Special Bulletin pertaining to this case visit our "SCV Sheriff Special Bulletins" section of SCVSheriff.com or click here: Special Bulletin - Wanted. 

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Pat O'neill, (661) 799-5154, or Detective Dan Finn, (661) 799-5153, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's COBRA Team. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.  -ref 05923

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.   

SCV Businesses Should Protect Themselves!

An Ounce of Prevention or a Ton of Problems
How ACH Bank Fraud Can Hurt Your Business
By Sgt. AJ Rotella
City of Santa Clarita – Sheriff’s Business Alliance

The Automated Clearing House Network or more commonly known as “ACH” has experienced a new wave of bank fraud that has found some local Santa Clarita businesses to be unsuspecting victims. An ACH transaction is an interbank electronic funds transfer between your bank account and over 20,000 participating financial institutions that use this system to streamline payment processing. Commonly used in direct deposit of payroll and Social Security payments, many companies also use it for making their tax payments to the IRS or receiving their nightly credit card processor’s deposits.

How does ACH fraud occur?

ACH fraud can occur with little effort. An individual simply needs two pieces of information: your checking account number and your bank routing number. This information is used in various ways to initiate the fraud. In its simplest form, the perpetrator uses your bank account and routing numbers to initiate a payment for goods or to pay off debt by making a phone call and giving these numbers to the desired vendor. This same scenario could also occur with Web-based purchases.

How can you guard against ACH fraud?

The easiest way to prevent ACH fraud is to put ACH blocks on your bank accounts. An ACH block allows the receiving party's bank to block all incoming ACH debits and/or credits prior to any transaction posting to that party's account. Although this block may not be possible for your business needs, you do have some other options. ACH receipt authorization allows business customers to notify their bank about businesses that are authorized to initiate an ACH debit. If the source of an ACH debit is not on the list of authorized users, the debit is rejected. This list can be very specific as to dates and dollar amounts, as well as recurring and one-time only uses. Another method is reverse positive pay, which allows business owners to review the incoming ACH debits and decide whether to accept or reject them. This decision, however, must be made the following day or the debits are rejected. Another option is to limit the ACH activity to one account and review it daily.

Where does ACH fraud occur?

ACH fraud cases can occur in transactions between consumers and businesses or simply between consumers who target unprotected bank accounts. The target of the fraud could involve general operating accounts, claim accounts or your company’s payroll account. In some fraud cases, claimants were using the information on loss payment checks to attempt the fraud. Former employees have also tried to use the payroll account to pay bills. In these most recent ACH fraud cases, companies are unsuspecting and rarely monitor ACH transactions, having failed to prevent the issue by simply placing ACH blocks on all of their accounts.

What can you do if you detect a fraudulent ACH transaction?

If you detect a fraudulent ACH transaction, you have 60 days to notify your bank. If you have a corporate account, you only have two days for this notification. If you report the fraud within the allotted time frame, you will not be held responsible. Under ACH rules, the originating bank must reimburse the victim and the victim's bank and then try to recover the loss from its customer. In addition to the preventive measures discussed earlier, a key step in combating ACH fraud loss is to review and reconcile bank accounts on a timely basis. Corporate accounts must be reviewed daily. Preventative steps could be to limit the number of accounts that allow ACH transactions to one or very few.

Practices to Mitigate ACH Fraud

To help prevent this fraud before it happens, the Sheriff’s Department suggests that you utilize bank fraud prevention tools such as:

• ACH Debit Blocks – electronic debits are rejected before posting to your account and returned to the originator
• ACH Debit Filters – allows for greater flexibility to authorize a single, multiple, or recurring AC debit for the exact or maximum amount. Additional decision criteria could be to only accept ACH debits by the origination name or id number
• File Total Validation Process (IVR) – ACH files are held in suspense at the bank until an authorized individual is able to validate item counts and total debit and credit amounts
• Late ACH Return Block – ACH returns received past two business days are automatically rejected and returned to the receiving financial institution
• Return Item Validation – ACH returns that are received timely, are immediately reviewed for the return reason and holds are placed on any pending or future payments
• Bank Information Reporting ACH transactions originated are reconciled to bank detail on an intraday and prior day basis

Remember, preventing crime in the City of Santa Clarita is EVERYONE’s business! Although this fraud activity has only reached a few local businesses, we have seen the criminal element use more creative devices to take from our businesses. An ounce of prevention in fraud cases will keep your assets protected.

For more information on Business Crime Prevention topics, please visit the City of Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Business Alliance on the Internet at the following link: City of Santa Clarita - Sheriff's Business Alliance.

This article was prepared with the assistance of Jeffery A. Dertz, CPA. Dertz is the Insurance Practice Partner at Blackman Kallick, 10 S. Riverside Plaza, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-980-3224, jdertz@BlackmanKallick.com.

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.  Residents should also visit www.crimereports.com to keep up with the types of incidents that are being reported in and around their neighborhood.    

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Santa Clarita Valley Gets New Detective Bureau

SCV Sheriff's Detectives: Better Equipped to Protect the Santa Clarita Valley with New State-Of-The-Art Detective Bureau Opening -

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station provides law enforcement services for the entire Santa Clarita Valley, covering more than 648 square miles and an estimated population nearing 275,000.  The City of Santa Clarita is the 4th largest by population in Los Angeles County and the 24th largest in the state.  The entire region has seen an economic, residential, and business growth boom for the past 37 years, flourishing from what was once a relatively small population of less than 50,000 to today's thriving community.  During a 17 year period from 1990 to 2007, the population in the area increased at a total approximate rate of 66.1 percent, or 3.88 percent annually.  And although the number of station personnel has increased to keep up with the growing needs of the community, the station’s office, storage, and locker space was in dire need of improvement.  In fact, the law enforcement infrastructure had remained virtually unchanged. 

In 2008, Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to more than 54,000 calls for service and documented more than 21,000 incident reports.  Deputies from the station made nearly 8,000 arrests, the most in the station’s history.  During this same time period, the city and county areas saw their overall crime rate reach a four year low, indicating that less crime was committed, but deputies were more innovative, productive, and proactive in catching those who did commit crimes. 
 
Twenty-six detectives, assigned to this Santa Clarita Detective Bureau in 2008 handled the investigations into every one of those arrests.  They, along with their support staff, handled more than 12,000 confirmed criminal cases in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

They did it all from a cramped 1,700 square foot office with limited desk space; virtually no storage areas for equipment; two interview rooms; no room for tactical response planning, meetings, and operations; and less than adequate paperwork and evidence processing centers.     

That all changed with the opening of this facility on March 27, 2009 and yesterday the Sheriff Lee Baca; Senior Deputy Roslalind Wayman - Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's Office, Fifth Supervisorial District; Mayor Frank Ferry and Councilmember Marsha McLean, joined Captain Anthony La Berge and 100 other dignitaries, detectives, and public safety leaders, officially dedicating the new 9,300 square foot facility, affording the detectives nearly 5 times the work space.  The new facility, near the current Sheriff's Station, includes a large conference room and Emergency Operations Center, a copy center, a central work area to process and inventory evidence and cases, and much needed interview rooms for thorough and complete investigations.  With the signing of a seven year lease commitment at a cost of $2.3 million, this new facility will provide your Santa Clarita Valley detectives with the ability to better protect our residents and investigate crime.   

How The New Detective Bureau Came To Fruition:  In November of 2007, Sheriff Baca made a personal visit to Santa Clarita Valley Station and saw the challenging state of the Detective Bureau’s work area.  The sheriff came away from this visit with a mission to replace the existing Detective Bureau work area with a modern, state-of-the-art facility. He proposed a plan to lease commercial space that would house the entire Detective Bureau, as well as the station’s COBRA and Community Interaction (CIT) Teams, Crime Analyst and Detective Bureau secretaries.

"I was dismayed when I saw some incredible detectives working in cramped quarters," Baca said at Wednesday's ceremony. 

Once given the green light, work was immediately begun at a variety of levels within the Department to make this happen as quickly as possible. 

In September 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved the lease agreement, and a contractor began modifying the space to fit the station’s needs.

On March 27, 2009, just 17 months after Sheriff Baca’s visit, the beautiful and much needed facility was opened to the Detective Bureau of the Santa Clarita Valley Station. 

The new Detective Bureau is the product of Sheriff Baca’s vision and commitment.  The successful completion of the project exemplifies the spirit and teamwork the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is all about and the commitment of everyone involved to keep public safety as a number one priority in the Santa Clarita Valley! 

"The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station would like to personally thank Sheriff Baca and all those involved with the timely approval and completion of this project," said Station Captain Anthony La Berge.  "This new Detective Bureau has provided much needed relief for all the personnel at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.  This new resource will greatly enhance our ability to serve the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley," he added.  

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Darren Harris at (661) 255-1121.   

Click It or Ticket - Buckle Up or Pay Up

Click It or Ticket - Price of Seat belt Ticket Rises to $132 -

Santa Clarita, Calif. - Keep you and your family safe and $132 in your wallet by making sure everyone wears their seat belts for every trip.  That's the message the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station is telling drivers as part of the 2009 start-of-summer Click it or Ticket mobilization, May 18-31.  Fines and fees have gone from under $100 previously to $132 this year for first time adult seat belt violations.  For children under 16, the fine is now $435 for the first time offense. 

No warnings will be given out, as the Santa Clarita Valley Station will be aggressively enforcing the state's occupant protection laws.  The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help save lives on California's roadways.  

"Seat belts save thousands of lives every year," said Captain Anthony La Berge.  "Buckling up will not only save you a heavy fine, it can also save your life.  We're not giving warnings.  It's Click It or Ticket."

Currently California has a seat belt usage rate of 95.7 percent, but that still means over one half million people are not buckling up.  Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants.  Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than restrained occupants.  

"Buckling up just makes sense," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  "It takes only two seconds for an action that can make the difference whether you or your family gets home today." 

More than 90 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year's Click It or Ticket mobilization. 

Funding to support California's Click it or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Richard Cohen at (661) 255-1121.   

SCV Deputies Honor Fallen Heroes

SCV Deputies Honor Fallen Officers Including One Of Our Own; Deputy Randy J. Hamson- Although we honor their memory and sacrifice everyday, the month of May brings a special time of year where law enforcement personnel can come together with family members, friends, dignitaries, community leaders, elected officials, and the community to recognize and remember our fallen heroes in special memorial ceremonies locally and throughout the nation.  Coming together to pay respect by  honoring the memory of all those heroes in law enforcement and the armed services who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of our country and our communities, preserving the freedoms we enjoy everyday.  

This year's ceremonies hit especially close to home for all the men and women of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, as local deputy Randy Hamson's name is being added to the California Peace Officers' Memorial in Sacramento, the National Peace Officers' Memorial in Washington D.C., and the Los Angeles County Peace Officers' Memorial in Whittier.        

As a tribute to our fallen friend and hero, several deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station joined in caravan to Sacramento for the 33rd Annual California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony Friday.  The deputies joined members of Randy's family, Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca, Santa Clarita Station Captain Anthony La Berge, former Santa Clarita Valley Station Captain Patti Minutello, and thousands of law enforcement officers from around the nation.  The deputies attended the ceremony to honor their fallen comrade, support his family, and also recognized and remember 10 other law enforcement officers whose names were added to the, now more than 1,400 names on the memorial.  

"I, along with several personnel from the Santa Clarita Valley Station, found this ceremonial event to be truly moving experience to both observe and be a part of, as we honored and paid tribute to Deputy Randy Hamson and the Hamson family," said Captain Anthony La Berge of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  "Our thoughts are with them always!"    

After a long and hard fought battle, Deputy Randy J. Hamson passed away on Friday, October 24th, 2008 as a result of injuries he sustained after being struck by a car on Saturday, August 16, 2004.  Deputy Hamson was on-duty and was protecting our community on Sierra Highway in the City of Santa Clarita when the tragic accident occurred.  

Randy had been with the Department for just over five years when the accident occurred.  Sadly, Randy became the third deputy to be killed in the line of duty in Santa Clarita Valley Station’s history.  Joining comrades Deputy Arthur E. Pelino, shot and killed in the line of duty by a mentally deranged suspect on March 19, 1978, and Deputy Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian,  shot and killed in the line of duty while assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms during the service of a search warrant on Friday, August 31, 2001, in Stevenson Ranch. 

The three deputies now forever remembered and memorialized as true heroes who dedicated their life, service, and protection to Los Angeles County and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  Those same comrades who came before him in a commitment and service, those who chose the same profession, and those who had the same desire to protect the innocence and quality of life in our great community. 

Throughout the month of May, Santa Clarita Deputies will participate in several other memorial events in remembrance of Randy, fallen troops at home and abroad, and all the law enforcement officers who have been lost in the line of duty throughout our nation.  

Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will travel to Washington D.C. this week to support Randy's family at the National Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony.  Randy's name will be added to the Memorial's blue-gray marble walls, joining more than 17,500 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.  Two motorcycle deputies from the Santa Clarita Station will have the prestigious honor of escorting Randy's family members and the families of peace officers from throughout the nation who have lost their sons, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers or other loved ones in the line of duty.  The deputies pay their own expenses to make the trip or travel on private donations provided by community members or organizations.     

Station personnel will then be involved with the The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's 2009 Memorial Torch Relay Run which will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2009 and will end on Sunday May 24th, 2009.  The relay run covers 339 miles and commences from the Sherman Block Sheriff’s Headquarters Building and travels non-stop throughout the day and night to each mainland Sheriff’s Station.  This year the memorial run will be in special honor of  the Southern California officers listed below and all those throughout the nation who have given their life in the protection of our communities and country.  The Memorial Torch is passed from teams of runners, bikers, walkers, and joggers, who devote their own time to honor the memory of all those who have fallen.  The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will run 5 legs of the Memorial Torch Relay Run covering 25.7 miles throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.    

The torch will ultimately be used on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the 40th Annual Los Angeles County Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony, held in the beautiful Memorial Park at the at the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's - Sheriff's Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center in Whittier, to ignite the Peace Officers' Memorial Wall in tribute to fallen law enforcement officers, including Deputy Randy J. Hamson and Deputy Juan A. Escalante from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.  Sheriff Lee Baca will preside over the ceremony to commemorate the lives of those peace officers who died in the line of duty while serving the residents of Los Angeles County.  Attending the memorial ceremony will be numerous federal, state, and local dignitaries, in addition to family members, friends, and co-workers of the fallen officers. The ceremony will include musical performances by members of law enforcement and the release of white doves on behalf of the fallen officers.

Those honored and remembered will include:

Deputy Juan A. Escalante, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

EOW: August 2, 2008

Officer Spree DeSha, Los Angeles Police Department

EOW: September 12, 2008

Deputy Randy J. Hamson, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

EOW: October 24, 2008

Officer Joseph P. Sanders, California Highway Patrol, Santa Fe Springs

EOW: December 15, 2008

Lieutenant Curtis A. Massey, Culver City Police Department

EOW: January 28, 2009

Bronze plaques with the names of all five officers will now join the more than 470 law enforcement officers whose names are inscribed on the Memorial Wall to honor their dedication to duty and the ultimate sacrifice they made.

Officials will recognize the heroism of those who have died and law enforcement personnel will gather in unity to reinforce individual memories of those who we lost and show unprecedented support for the families and friends showing them that their deep sense of loss is shared with our law enforcement family.  

Randy joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on March 23, 1999, and graduated the Sheriff’s Academy on August 27, 1999.  He worked at Pitchess Detention Center - East Facility, until April of 2003, and then began his patrol service at Santa Clarita Valley Station in April of 2003.

Randy will always be remembered as a diligent and hard working deputy.  He was admired and respected by his fellow protectors, and the community.  He was a great partner, public servant, and friend.  He will truly be missed.

Up until the time of the accident, Randy resided in Simi Valley California with his wife and their three children.  Randy is also survived by his parents Jim and Carolyn Hamson, who reside in Paso Robles, his brother Tim Hamson, who is a Los Angeles City Fire Fighter and former Los Angeles Police Department member, and his brother Mike Hamson, who resides in Washington.

His wife Cindy said what Randy always wanted to do was protect and serve the public -- like many, he lost his life fulfilling that dream.

 Randy J. Hamson - Honored and forever memorialized and remembered.  Gone, but never forgotten! 

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.