Ditto!! I have had ongoing struggles with the LASD as well. I have only lived in this community for 3 years, but the attitude of the SD is unforgiveable. I just finished a long letter to The Signal about how we have racist, drug dealing teens with very scary attitudes (as seen in their graffiti and heard in the idiocy that spouts from their filthy mouths) hanging out and causing trouble within the Bridgeport area. Yes, I said BRIDGEPORT. And these kids LIVE in Bridgeport, and I suspect their parents don't know what these kids are doing, and it's obvious they don't care. So it's become the problem of the neighborhood. Alas, we call and call the LASD, only to be told, "What do you want us to do about it?" or "Do you really want us to waste our time responding?". Well, guess what? Since we don't want this type of behavior in OUR neighborhood, we have had to try to deal with it. And surprise, I was attacked and robbed of my cell phone by one of these teens at 4 in the afternoon right in front of little kid soccer practice, because this idiot didn't want me taking cell phone pics of him doing his lovely artwork and smoking his dope. Well, it took this escalation to finally get a response. But wouldn't you know? They caught two of the kids, and DID NOTHING!!! The kid who committed robbery is still out there, and these deputies know exactly who it is.

When I called the LASD as I was instructed to do so to give them the serial number of my stolen cell, NO ONE knew what to do and I got transferred to 4 different departments! Um, pick up a pencil and a piece of paper, look up the report number, and WRITE IT DOWN??? Good grief. I feel really safe here, knowing who's out there to protect my community. (Insert tongue in cheek here.)

Having lived in Temecula, which has its own PD, I can tell you that contracting with the Sheriff's Department is the best thing, for both the taxpayer and the citizen. Small PDs work hard, but are faced with budgetary constraints that are mountains compared to ours. What we are currently doing is the best thing for all concerned.

It is possible in some cases for a defendant to out spend and thereby outperform the DDA's office in court. But, to say justice is too expensive is just ignorant. This sounds like another member of the LASD posse or a family member trying to testilie with statistics. Justice is supposed to be priceless. The fact is LASD is a problem and not a solution. They pride themselves in being glorified security guards and not active law enforcement. Every department in the San Gabriel Valley has a budget from 25 to 100 million Pasadena being the largest for obvious reasons. The SCV will never have the revenue of Pasadena nor need the size of Pasadena PD. 30 million would work for us and can be acquired with a very small property tax and sales tax. Plus the bulk of the force would not need to be full time officers, because traffic and all types of patrols can be done by reserve officers trained at the SCV PD academy created with COC. LAPD has the perfect reserve program. We can hire the current captain of their program to start ours off on the right foot. Also, SCV PD can open the academy up to training other department's new hires from around the state. These options save us and create money. Give it more thought and we can save more and generate more.
Also an important note - other departments within LA County have no respect for LASD training which is why they send their new hires to Orange County Sheriff's Department Academy rather then to the close LASD academy. This is where LASD posse and family try to lie or show some exception some where. The facts are deputies suck at active police because they can. There is no professional standard to maintain with the department. Their only responsibility they could be punished for is being tardy to work. After making to work on time all else that is done or not done during their shift is forgiven.

Danah, I totally understand. I called them many times for assistance and never get a response. One example just this weekend 3/9/2008 at around 1000 I notice a car window on my block with a broken driver side window. I called the station and was told they could not help unless a crime was involved. I said the window was busted out and that sounds like a crime. The deputy said he could not dispatch anyone because maybe the owner did it and the owner has a right to break his own window. I said maybe a deputy should be dispatch to investigate that. They said no. The owner had to call and ask them to come out and investigate.
That is just one of many incidences with the deputies. I can tell you of another time I called and got no response. At the Valencia Mall a person parked their car blocking a handicap person in his wheel chair. He could not get into his car because someone illegally parked blocking his side door entrance to his van. One side was the building the other was the illegally parked car. I called on that too and they said they were to busy. I said that is not possible, because I just drove past a deputy pulling people over for rolling thru a stop sign at Gilbert Dr & Rainbow Glen Dr. Every traffic cop is taught handicap parking is sacred and off limits to everyone except the intended protective class – handicap persons. There have been many other situations that limited time and space prevents be from including herein. So, trust me I understand and wish we had our own proactive enforcement department.

I can surely understand the frustration that has been expressed by all concerned. I too am a local resident in the Santa Clarita Valley and operate a business. I have also been Law Enforcement for the past 17 years and am currently a Level 1 Reserve (could not get it out of my system). There is good and bad with every profession and the atrocities mentioned by you are inexcusable.

Please take a moment and understand that I too have occasion to summon the Sheriff's Department for one thing or another, their calls for service were handled professionally and with courtesy - It was not until the conclusion of their response to my service request, that I revealed my current and past position. Having said that, and for the record, my calls were much different than the ones mentioned.

However, a local police department would definitely increase law enforcement's ability to handle calls for service and curtail any missed opportunity for the "thin" deployment of the Sheriff's Department. But isn't that always the case - Not enough Deputies or Not enough Officers? There would be no absence of applicants, probably the best of the best from the Residents that are currently with LASD, LAPD and CHP, not to mention some of the other agencies that call the Santa Clarita their home.

It is a difficult proposition, we all want good police presence and to be free of having to worry about threats on our person, family or property. We want police/sheriff’s to take action, kicking butt and taking names when it comes to the vile underbelly of the criminal society in the Santa Clarita Valley.

I wish I had more of a solution. Even being "one of them" for the longest time, I cannot remedy this or give a proposition that will make any one of your injustices feel better.

With Much Regret - The Messenger

Parris911. Thank you for your honesty. It was refreshing and appreciated. Yes, we often want more service. That is true n just about everything from 911 calls to simply more cashers at the check out. But, you will never find a resident of the San Gabriel Valley, in cities like Monrovia, Arcadia, Pasadena, or Azusa, wishing they were patrolled by the LASD. No one wants to disband their police department to replace it with the LASD. The SCV will never be an independent city while we utilize the same service as Lancaster and Palmdale. Until we have our own police department we will just be a glorified extension of the Antelope Valley.

While having a SCV PD may be better, the City of Santa Clarita will never create one. With the City being relatively safe compared to other cities, the City will not create a new PD which will cost more. The City's priority is in parks and recreation.

Santa Clarita is a contract city. Most cities that are relatively young are contract cities. The Cities you mention in the San Gabriel Valley have been around for 100 years or more. Back then each entity had to create their own forces. THese days, it is just too expensive.

While I agree with you that it may be better, chances are slim it will ever happen.

When we hire secretaries', street cleaners, etc we want to know who they are such as their education and work experience. But we do not ask these questions prior to a deputy being assigned to SCV station, because we have no right to do so. Think about that. We have no right to who enforces are laws. Why not just move back into the valley where government downtown makes out decision for us. Here a Sheriff far away at a Star Center (what a gay name) makes our decisions for us. He does not care about us. We have no reason to believe he can find our city on a map. Maybe if we knew more about these deputies we would not have hired them to even clean our street. We do not know. We teach our children to not trust strangers. But we trust strangers with the lives of our loved one and the security of our property while we are at work. It is time to implement a small property tax that is temporary and used to build a modern Santa Clarita Police Department and jail. We can hire any Captain from the many outstanding San Gabriel Valley departments for the chief. We should stay away from LASD & LAPD. Then we can start our own City Attorney's Office to persecute misdemeanor and wobbler cases such as gang activities and graffiti. They two department can work together to make this city the greatest place on earth.

Remember when Bill Clinton issued 140 pardons as well as several commutations on his last day of office (January 20, 2001). Does a name Carlos A. Vignali ring a bell? He had his sentence for cocaine trafficking commuted, after serving 6 of 15 years in federal prison.

The details are quite depressing. So, I will spare you the details, but if you want the rest of the details GOOGLE the 107 Congress Report (2nd Session) on this matter entitled JUSTICE UNDONE: CLEMENCY DECISIONS IN THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE (report 107-454). If you just ate wait a few hours because this stuff is going to make you sick and possibly upchuck your chow.

The sentence commutation was controversial because there are claims that it was a consequence of Carlos's father, Horacio Carlos Vignali's, monetary contributions to politicians such as Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Hertzberg and Xavier Becerra, who in turn petitioned Clinton for the younger Vignali's release. But who else petitioned for his release?

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca provided critical support for the Vignali commutation that was inappropriate, given his position. Unless, despite being in law enforcement what is truly in his heart love for pro-drug use pro-drug trafficking… and judging from the graffiti around SCV he’s got much love for them too.

Sheriff Baca had a close relationship with Horacio Vignali that was based on Vignali’s
political and financial support for Sheriff Lee Baca. Sheriff Baca has known Horacio Vignali since 1991, and Vignali has been a key political supporter of Baca. He has given Baca at least $11,000 in contributions, and raising between $60,000-$70,000 more. Has drug money put our Sheriff in power and does that same ideology that influence policy here in the SCV Station?

Sheriff Baca continues to claim, without any basis (meaning he’s a lying), that he did not support the Vignali commutation. Rather than express regret for his role in the Vignali commutation, Sheriff Baca maintains that he opposed the Vignali commutation, and did nothing that could have been interpreted as support for the commutation. However, Sheriff Baca’s supposed opposition to the Vignali commutation does not square with the fact that: (1) he drafted a letter that he believed Horacio Vignali would use in the clemency effort and (2) when he was asked squarely by the White House if the President should commute Vignali’s prison sentence, he stated that it was “the President’s decision to make, rather than express his opposition. These facts, and others outlined in this report, indicate that Sheriff Baca wanted to support the Vignali commutation, but was afraid of creating a paper record that would clearly indicate his support.

Assuming this demonstrates where his heart is, I dare say that the SCV voters would not elect him as our Chief of Police for SCV Police Department. It would only be rational to suggest that we then should not trust nor approve of his management decisions as they pertain to law enforcement. That is from whom he approves to command the SCV station all the way down to the deputies hired by the LASD. Not to say are unqualified, but that we cannot be sure because the fruit from a poisonous tree should be presumed also poisonous.

All comments have valid points but the blame for unacceptable police service in SCV must, first and foremost, land directly in the laps of those who govern this city. Unless they prioritize law enforcement no improvement will take place. 16 million dollars per year for a city the size of Santa Clarita is shameful when you consider that much smaller cities in the southbay like El Segundo, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach spend much more. Things that really matter like response time and case clearance (crimes that are solved) are never discussed. Instead we hear about some new program that is merely smoke and mirrors intended to give the appearance of good service. Good service is measured by, most notably, response time. Don't tell me that a city like Simi Valley has a better tax base and more means to pay for a police department. Spend the money before its too late and businesses start looking elsewhere.

Your right. Simi Valley doesnt have a better tax base. However, they have serious budget issues going on there. I have heard that they are going to have to cut city services by 15% (police not included) because the police department is so expensive.

I am not willing to cut services to other areas to improve police serivces where LASD does a decent job. Even if Santa Clarita created a PD, I would think that a number of officers already at the Sheriff's station will be with the new PD. So the same personalities would reside. Also, doing a cursory review it seems that smaller police departments have lower salaries than LASD. I would think that it would be harder to attract quality police officers.

My two cents. I think if you asked the majority of people who live in Santa Clarita, that they are content with the current law enforcement services and want money to be spent on higher priority issues such as improving traffic and building more parks.

In a city where million dollar homes are not uncommon and homes in the 700-800k range are the norm, "decent" and "content" should not be acceptable. We deserve top notch police service similar to that in Burbank and Glendale. Personally, I'm "content" with the "decent" parks we have in Santa Clarita and would rather have a police department that doesn't spend 30 minutes trying to convince you that they don't need to complete a report that would take them 15 minutes to write.

I'm not opposed to a Santa Clarita PD. I just think its going to be hard to convince people to spend more money for a PD. Good luck to you..

Yes, I concur with you. The probability of SCV getting its own police department is a long way off if ever. However, what I find very interesting in all these blogs is that no one wants LASD policing the SCV. Also, those in law enforcement, the prior Captain Bob Spierer of the SCV station and Paris911 both say the service could be worse so what is all the fuss about. Well, the fuss is about SCV needing a full time police department.

The inadequacy of the deputies is not their fault, but rather is the fault of the LASD training system. This is because patrol is not a priority. The County has 1 intended function for its deputies – guard duty. That includes detention and the courts. Deputies are hired with one purpose – guard duty. So, LA County does not care if the deputies suck at policing, because they were never intended to be a full time active police department. Unfortunately, the deputies inadequacies have become our as well. This is an injustice. We need active policing of our gangs/taggers. Unfortunately, this form of policing is seen by LASD as just too dangerous for LASD deputies. They lack the training and experience, because they have spent too much time on guard duty after the academy. My dad & would use the dogs to hunt wild boars. The dogs wore Kevlar but the boars still could give the dogs a thrashing if we did not kill the boar quick. My dad always told me to shoot the boar before he got to the dogs, because if our dog gets hit too many times that dog may not hunt again – being no use to us. I see that in the eyes of LASD deputies. The dog that wont hunt sits on the porch barking looking like a killer, but with no heart. I know a lot of LAPD officers and numerous other police officers throughout the San Gabriel Valley. They do not have the 1000 yard stare and do not want it nor need it. They have real time training and real life experience so they are calm and professional with everyone. This is because they started being a cop right out of the academy. The deputies do not have that luxury. The days of deputies' youth, when they would seek out a challenge and activitely learning, are spent in a jail cell being an over paid security guard. By the time they get to street patrol they have seen how strong and deadly thugs really are. The inmates have imposed the fear of God into each LASD deputy. The deputies come out of correction with only their natural fears and cautions of those with age and experience, but lack the experience of a real police officer (how to have a healthy fear of these thugs, while still controlling them legally). Couple that fear with a deputy watching himself get soft and slow while on that guard duty. So for most LASD deputies "that dog just wont hunt."

Stating in her rebuttal on 02/20/2008, Laurie Ender said that it really does not matter how wonderful the city is viewed from the outside looking in if your neighborhood stinks. She mentioned that one of the issues that make a neighborhood stink is the ugly site of graffiti. The graffiti on buildings owned by hard working citizens of this wonderful City of Santa Clarita is unacceptable. She mentioned that code enforcement is essential to ending graffiti. I must say I concur. But I believe to do so she must end the philosophy of the LASD and City Counsel – cleaning up graffiti after the fact is cheaper then persecuting the offenders. LASD and City Counsel act as though they view graffiti as a tort rather then a crime. This places dealing with graffiti on the property owner rather then on law enforcement. I hope Laurie Ender is able to execute a plan to actively enforce the state and city statutes that prohibit graffiti. I want the citizens of SCV to see the City of Santa Clarita as others see it from the outside looking in. I hope Laurie Ender realizes what she said. She said SCV has a graffiti problem and enforcing the codes that prohibit it can solve that problem. In saying this she is admitting that she is aware that LASD is not actively enforcing the laws that prohibit graffiti. There is a lot that LASD is not doing that a full time police department does. Lets hope that she becomes aware of their other deficiencies as well. I am hoping for the best but bracing for the worse. Getting the deputies to see what their actual responsibilities are and thereby getting them to actively patrol the trouble spots in SCV will not be an easy task. From what I have seen thus far it is similar to watching Sunni and Shia Muslims try to convince the other how to interpret the Qur’an.

Lack of free time has prevented me from telling the stories of the LASD that proves their ignorance. The City of Santa Clarita has a large diverse professional population. I personally know attorneys with county counsel, district attorney's office, public defender and private attorneys who have all had terrible experiences with deputies in SCV. I also know MDs & RNs who have all had terrible experiences with deputies in SCV. The complaints are very similar – it is like dealing with juveniles – boarding on juvenile delinquency. The maturity level is an embarrassment to SCV and to the LASD. Getting them to show up and then getting them to fill out a police report is like dealing with an unruly juvenile. Of my personal attorney friends, those with the county and some of the private attorneys they deal in criminal matters from felonies to DUIs wobblers. So they daily deal with law enforcement agencies throughout LA County. They told me that all other law enforcement agencies demonstrate a high level of professionalism that their city and department can be proud of. That is also true of non-SCV LASD deputies in other locations such as Lost Hills Station and all the Antelope Valley Stations.

A friend of mine was renting an apartment in SCV. She moved in before all the repairs were completed. The landlord promised to finish it soon after she moved in. They did as they promised. The maintenance crew came in when no one was home (used the master key) and stole all her computers and laptops. She called LASD immediately. They finally showed up and said there is no proof of a crime here. They said "we see they did repairs to your apartment but they are allowed it when they want because they own the apartment building." What an idiot! What was he smoking during Landlord-Tenant class. He said there is no crime so no police report. This is a common response by SCV deputies. I am not sure if they really lack knowledge of the law or they simply refuse to write it up to keep SCV crime stats low. I wont bore you with the rest of the details. The facts are that there had more facts to show she bought these products and they are now gone. The deputies should have asked himslef (1)do we have a larceny, (2)do we have burglary, etc… They are unable to spot the issues. But enough on that…..

Now! Now! Now! You know the 'Higer up's' in Santa Clarita have plans for all of us citizens. No, not a new Police Force, but upgrades like more cookie cutter food places, renovations of places like Old New Hall and MORE HOMES!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! They are just fine with how things are with crime and what not, because they live behind the gates. Did ya know that a nice neighborhood in our community over the past 6 months has had two forced entries by 2 young men attemting to get at the women inside. One home invasion where the 17 yrd old actually got into bed with a woman, and a nice man dipped down in his car masterbating to the kids playing at the community pool. Oh you didn't know this did you? Thats because no reports were filed by our local law enforcement.
Have a great Santa Clarita Day!

I'm so pleased that we live in a country that allows "free speech" and that our media prints public opinion so that people can air their beliefs and perceptions - as fact, no matter how slanted, possibly untrue, or even ridiculous. That same freedom allows me to respond.
Here we go again, more Cop bashing! It seems that when something involving law enfocement isn't resolved to someone's satisfaction, or fulfilled the idea of what they "thought" should have occurred (police report, fingerprints, pictures, crime tape, etc.)- we get Cop bashing. "They didn't do...", "They shoulda done..."
Oh...yes...then out come the "arm chair lawyers" who like to spew their "Adam 12" legalese.
Puh-leeeese!

I am happy we live in our country that allows "free speech" too. The people above are stating opinions about a specific Law Enforcement. You are stating opinions about them. Who is the opinionated one here?

perhaps the answer is independence from LA........

Hmmm...touchy are we about unwarranted criticism? I stand by my comments.

Yes I agree about the police department but we do need is for the city to make sure the public knows what crimes are really happening in SCV. I have heard from residences in the area that there was a dead body discovered by Chi Chi's on Soledad within the last 2 weeks & it is no where on the news. I also heard of a fight with knives involved at the Jack in the Box on Lyons. Us people raising kids & thinking we are safe in this beautiful city are kidding ourselves. When they say crime is down, I really doubt that. It's really too bad they are not honest about crimes to keep residences on their toes.

AverageCitizen. A woman's apartment was burglarized. That means that strangers broke in and entered her dwelling house with the specific intent to commit a felony therein. This is a crime!! If LASD deputies do not investigate this, then what are they here for? Who are they to call this woman a liar without an investigation? Again: Glendale PD, Pasadena PD, Arcadia PD, Plamdale/Lancaster LASD, LASD Lost Station. . . would not have tolerated this juvenile behavior. SCV tolerates juvenile delinquency behavior from their deputies.