Mourning the Death of Deputy Kuredjian

Re “Gunman Killed Deputy, Officials Say,” Sept. 4: About a year and a half ago I had the opportunity to ride along with Sheriff’s Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian during one of his shifts. The approximately 10 to 15 calls he responded to ran the complete spectrum of human needs and pathos--from the teenager who tried to pass a photocopied $20 bill at an arcade, to a family whose garage had been burglarized, to a deranged woman banging on the door of her son’s apartment demanding to see her granddaughter while her family cowered fearfully inside. In every instance Kuredjian demonstrated a variety of people skills that enabled him to show compassion, empathy and, when the situation required it, firmness.

As I drove home after the end the shift, I came to the conclusion that Kuredjian was the kind of man who was made for this job. This excellence can only be achieved by a person who loves what he does and from the joy he derives in helping people. He was proud of his chosen profession and conducted himself in a way that exemplified this pride. I respected and admired him.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to Deputy Kuredjian’s family, his fellow deputies and also to the community of Santa Clarita, which has lost a truly outstanding deputy and a friend.

Jim Sierra

Northridge

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I wasn’t surprised to read about the courage of young Austin Losorelli in his fund-raising effort for Deputy Kuredjian. Austin’s father, LAPD Officer Joe Losorelli, was the first senior lead officer I met when becoming involved with community policing in our Van Nuys neighborhood over five years ago. Joe’s integrity, devotion to the job and concern for the community he served set a standard by which I was to judge each senior lead officer who followed. Those values have obviously rubbed off on his son. Thanks, Joe.

Alan Stone

Van Nuys