Deputy to Serve as Civilian at Storefront

Retired Deputy Max Pena has been selected to fill a civilian post at the Fillmore Police Storefront on Lemon Way.

Pena, who helped build the storefront in 1995, ran the center until his position as a sworn officer was cut, effective Friday.

City officials credited Pena’s work at the storefront for a plummeting crime rate in north Fillmore, but added that they could not afford to keep his position.

Pena’s position had been funded through a federal grant that ran out earlier this year. So to save money and as a way to retain the storefront, city officials replaced the more than $104,000 a year sworn position, including salary and benefits, with two part-time positions for civilians. The part-time salaries will add up to less than $50,000 annually, city officials said.

Pena, who has worked as an officer in the city for 28 years, said in an interview last week that he applied for the position because he wanted to continue helping the community, even if that meant doing it as a civilian employee.

Fillmore resident Norbert Castel de Oro has been offered the storefront’s remaining part-time position, city officials said.

Castel de Oro, who holds a degree in public administration from Cal Lutheran University, is currently employed with the Los Angeles Police Department as a dispatcher and a community liaison.

He has also been a member of the Air Force and the reserves and worked as a college tutor and a high school teaching assistant, officials said.

Pena and Castel de Oro will each work about 25 hours at the center.