Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Captain to Retire Today

The chief law enforcement officer for the Santa Clarita area, Sheriff’s Capt. Jerry Conklin, retires today after a 30-year career including two as head of the rapidly growing Santa Clarita area.

Conklin, 55, will be succeeded by Capt. Michael Quinn, who has served in the same capacity at the Crescenta Valley station for about four years. Quinn, 53, met with Conklin Monday for some last-minute discussions about Santa Clarita and is expected to tour the city for the first time today.

“I tend to be quite people-oriented,” Quinn said of his leadership style. “I think the deputies and civilian employees are responsible to the citizens. That’s a two-edged sword. I want the public to understand what the deputies are facing as well.”

Quinn has previously worked in the department’s search-and-rescue unit, information bureau and Special Weapons and Tactics team. He has a bachelor’s degree in police science from Cal State Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in communications from Pepperdine University.

Quinn believes that the main differences in the Crescenta and Santa Clarita valleys are their populations. Crescenta Valley has a consistent population of less than 100,000, including La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Altadena. The Santa Clarita Valley includes about 160,000 people and is steadily growing.

“The challenges of the Santa Clarita Valley are not different from the station I come from, except they’re magnified,” Quinn said.

La Canada Flintridge and Santa Clarita each contract for sheriff’s services from Los Angeles County. Leaders in both areas are trying to hold the line against graffiti and other gang-related activities creeping into their areas.

Santa Clarita officials agree that a new captain can mean a changed relationship between the city and the Sheriff’s Department.

Mayor George Pederson, who knows both Conklin and Quinn from his own 31-year career in law enforcement that includes eight years in the Santa Clarita Valley station, said the two have very different styles.

“I think Mike Quinn will bring a vitality to the department. It will put a positive spin on a very successful program,” said Pederson. “Jerry left him a good law enforcement program here.”