Paul Higa, 53; Chief Probation Officer for Los Angeles County
Paul Higa, 53, Los Angeles County’s chief probation officer, died Saturday afternoon at UCLA Medical Center after suffering a stroke March 31.
Higa started working at the agency as a deputy probation officer trainee when he was 22.
Over 30 years, he worked his way up at the 5,200-employee agency, getting the top post last April, when he was named head of the department, which oversees more than 80,000 adult and juvenile offenders.
“He was an extremely caring man who was dedicated to youth and service to the community,” Chief Probation Deputy Bob Taylor said in a statement.
Higa is survived by his wife, Jane; and his adult children, Josh and Jennifer.
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