History of Sheriff's Department in Santa Clarita Valley
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has been providing Law Enforcement and temporary jail services for the resident's of this valley for 158 years.
In 1888, twelve years after the town of Newhall was established, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proposed the erection of a jail building in Newhall. This Jail was to be 12 feet x 20 feet. The location for our first "Jail" was in Newhall, on Spruce Street. This jail remained in use until 1906, when a new jail was built.
In 1926, the Newhall Substation #6 was established on San Fernando Road. Deputy J.E.B. Stewart opened the station, which at the time served the entire Northern portion of Los Angeles County. The station was manned 24 hours a day by two Deputies. The Newhall force originally included Deputies Howard, Fox, Ernst, Stockwell, Knuss, Nester and Aikens. A news article in "The Magnet" dated August 26, 1926 described the deputies as: "A jolly bunch of fellows and very pleasant to meet---unless your business with them is from the wrong end of a sawed off shotgun." Arrests in those days ranged from "Auto Thievery" to traffic enforcement to bank robberies. The Sheriff's Department fielded two units for the entire area, and there was one resident Deputy in Gorman.
The sub-station was located at 24238 North San Fernando Road. This station served the valley for many years, until the current Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station was opened in 1972.
The current Sheriff's Station is now home to more than 200 staff members providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the Santa Clarita Valley and the City of Santa Clarita. The station has it's own Detective Bureau, Cobra Unit, Search and Rescue, Community Relations, Patrol Deputies, Traffic Investigators and many other personnel. All these personnel are directly involved in the daily operations of policing the 52 square miles of the City of Santa Clarita, with an estimated population at more than 178,000 people (fourth largest city in Los Angeles County by population), and 596 square miles of Unincorporated Los Angeles County, with an estimated population of more than 70,000. We have grown from a field force of two units in 1926 to a current field patrol force of over 20 patrol units at times.
The years have shown tremendous growth within our Station. We now also have specialized "Teams" of Deputies working to build relationships between law enforcement and the community. The C.I.T. Team and the C.O.P.S. Deputies are successfully implementing the philosophy of Community Policing throughout the City and County areas we serve.
Station History: Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station 36th Anniversary
The current Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station opened its doors on a May 8th. 1972, with Sheriff's Captain Coffeen officiating at the ceremony. Explorer scouts conducted tours of the station and included demonstrations of computerized and expanded traffic record systems. Copies of historic dockets and cases dating back to the early 1900’s were on display.
Now, here we are in 2008, and although we are still in the same unchanged building, the laws and method of operations have changed substantially to meet our current everyday challenges and sophisticated crimes. Our deputies are also better equipped and trained today to handle whatever comes their way.
As the official Historian for the station since 1995 and a volunteer since October 23, 1983, I have seen many changes throughout the years, some of which I created. The Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Historical Hall of Fame was introduced in 1996 to gather, preserve and make available information about people, places and events that have shaped the community from the past.
The archives collection is housed in an area of 150 feet in the hallways of our station that includes a vast array of unique historical material such as photographs, historical narratives, books, and memorabilia from the Old Gorman Post Sub-Station. It is an extensive collection on Santa Clarita’s former Sheriff’s from the early 1940’s and topics pertaining to the community’s sworn officers.
Included is the first jail in Old Newhall, built in December 22, 1905, and which still stands with iron bars on the windows and the original floors and four inch walls. It has survived many earthquakes throughout the years. Architectural plans called for construction of a concrete building with ¼ inch door covered with heavy screens and interior white washed walls. Total cost of building the jail was $236 .25. The building was appraised for the first time in 1929 at a sum of $2000.00.
The first Sheriff’s Station was located at 24238 North San Fernando Road, established on August 26, 1926. The area of service included the Santa Susana Mountains, Kern County Line on the North and Los Angeles city limits at their northerly line, a total of 128 miles, also Lopez and Kagel Canyon areas were served.
The type of services offered was criminal investigation and crime prevention work. Personnel included one captain; two sergeants, eight deputies and one secretary.
Equipment consisted of one radio car, one extra car, two teletypes, a telephone, a new jail with two cells and a trusty quarters. The number of cases handled for the fiscal year of July 1939 was 548.
What a difference sixty-eight years has made.
In our station hallways there are many group photos of our deputies for the years 1932, 1944 and most years up to the present time. You might even recognize some of your family, friends or distant relatives.
In 1950 the Ralphs family built a house for resident deputies in the Gorman area with a detached office, jail and two car garage which still stands, but has not been used as a sub-station since 1993. Deputy Fred Sibley was the first resident in the new house. There have been approximately 25 deputies that have patrolled the Gorman area from early 1945 to 2008. Richard Browning patrolled the area in 1945 and Frank DeBernardi, who spent ten years patrolling Gorman from 1952 to 1962, and now we have Jerry Newbold and John De Young patrolling and protecting.
The present station was outgrown many years ago. Everyone sits in cramped offices, and I have seen deputies circle the block hoping to find a parking space, but to no avail. As more people move into our beautiful valley, we have developed an increased need for more deputies, investigators and support staff, which also increases the need for more vehicle parking. Even with these problems our sheriffs and staff continue to patrol and protect over and beyond without complaint.
In retrospect, when I began the Historical Hall Of Fame in 1995, white wasn't my favorite color, though it is said it is the sign of purity. The white walls in the station were obscenely empty and boring. At that time Mike Quinn was our station commander. A great person and well liked by everyone. I spoke to him about doing something to the walls to bring warmth and character to them. I explained my ideas and he told me to go forward and conquer. My plan was to enhance the image of the station and our sheriffs. I’ve always enjoyed reading and had no idea that the history of the Sheriff’s Department would be one of the greatest educations of my life. The researching is the greatest part of any historical project. This is how I began to find out what the Sheriff's Department is all about.
From 1850 to 2008 and the Sheriff’s Department is still one of the largest and well recognized agencies in our country.
I’ll venture to say that the history of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been one of the most interesting readings for me.
There is now a new look in our station. In a collection of historical photos lies a labyrinth of display representing a time capsule of law enforcement's one hundred fifty-eight years of history in the valley. Without the men and women whose pictures you will see in our hallways, there wouldn't’t have been law enforcement as we know it today.
These are the Sheriff’s who years ago had the foresight and fortitude to pave the way with ideas that helped to forge the law of the land.
This was the beginning of Law Enforcement. From 1850 to the present time and the Sheriff’s Department is still going strong and is still today one of the largest and well recognized agencies in the country.
Congratulations to the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station on their 36th anniversary and to our sheriffs and support staff who make it possible for all of us to live in a safe community.
Historically Speaking
Estelle Foley/ Historian
