New arrivals welcomed at C.V. Sheriff’s Station

The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, which serves La Cañada, has been through some changes lately with many retirements, including Capt. Tim Peters.

Capt. David Silversparre is completing his first month as captain of the station, but he is very familiar with the area. Silversparre not only grew up in the Crescenta Valley but also served in the station’s Explorer Scout program. His wife graduated from La Cañada High School and his son now coaches water polo at LCHS.

Other new personnel include Lt. Larry Landreth, Lt. Bill Weiss, Sgt. Ken Binkley and Deputy Jorge Valdivia.

Landreth transferred from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Internal Affairs unit. He was promoted to lieutenant and now serves at Crescenta Valley as the watch commander for the p.m. and early morning shifts.

Weiss transferred from the Santa Clarita station and is the operations officer. His duties cover everything from personnel to community outreach.

Binkley is the community relations sergeant. His duties include coordinating the school resource officers, the Explorers and emergency preparedness.

As the new community relations coordinator, Jorge Valdivia works closely with the neighborhood watch program, the station’s volunteers and events like the upcoming Sheriff Station Open House on May 10.

All of the new personnel have come from other areas in Los Angeles County but are getting to know the community they now serve by going to city and town council meetings and events like the recent “Play It Safe Expo” at Verdugo Hills Hospital.

“I was working in East LA,” Valdivia said. “Coming here is like night and day. People here are more friendly and the community is involved.”

He added that in other places he has served, the community looked at law enforcement in a negative way.

“Here we are getting a lot of positive feedback,” he said.

Binkley said he grew up in the Sunland/Tujunga area and has worked at several stations, from Malibu to West Hollywood.

“Every area is different,” he said.

“I have been impressed with the community and people here,” Weiss said.

He was introduced to the La Cañada Flintridge City Council at their meeting last week. “This area is much like Santa Clarita,” he said.

Valdivia, Binkley, Weiss and Landreth all commented on the tight-knit community of La Cañada and Crescenta Valley and said they were looking forward to meeting more of the community members.