Ask your neighbors to rattle off a list of the reasons they’ve chosen to live in the Santa Clarita Valley, and chances are you’ll hear things like, “safety,” and “the low crime rate.”  Many of us choose to raise our families here largely because of the safe environment that contributes to our community’s high quality of life.
And it’s no accident.
Thanks to the efforts of numerous community leaders and our outstanding local law enforcement from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Santa Clarita is considered one of the nation’s safest communities. The SCV Sheriff’s Foundation aims to keep it that way.
The Foundation, originally called the SCV Sheriff’s Booster Club, has provided volunteer support and much-needed equipment to the SCV Sheriff’s Station for more than a quarter-century.  The Foundation provides vital assistance to an extensive array of the station’s efforts, including the Civilian Volunteer, Explorer, Search & Rescue, Volunteer Mounted Posse and Reserve Deputy programs.
“We’re very proud of our Foundation’s track record of providing our local deputies the important tools they need to do their job well,” says Foundation President Ken Wiseman.  “Whether it’s the DUI checkpoint trailer, the mobile command post, emergency radios or any one of a number of other efforts we’ve supported, we feel great knowing that we have helped contribute to their efforts to keep our community safe.”
The Foundation is inviting the community to help, too.  Everyone, residents and businesses alike, can participate in the Foundation’s “Be Our Star” campaign by joining the Foundation and making contributions to support the SCV Sheriff’s Station.  New and ongoing supporters can join and make contributions by visiting the Foundation website, www.scvsheriffsfoundation.org.
There are multiple levels of support for individuals and businesses, and each supporter receives vehicle decals and other tokens of thanks from the Foundation, which operates under the supervision of a board of directors including leaders from various walks of life in our community.  New to the board this year are: Steven Chegwin, a long-time local resident, volunteer and accountant; and Don Fleming, co-owner of Valencia Acura.
SCV Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Becker says the Foundation’s efforts are important — and much-appreciated — as local deputies strive to preserve the high quality of life we all enjoy.
“The Foundation’s support means so much to the personnel at our station,” Becker said. “As our deputies work to battle the encroachment of drugs into the community, and especially to keep our youth population safe and crime-free, it’s important not only to have the right tools and equipment to do the job, but also to know that the community is behind us, too.”
To obtain more details about the SCV Sheriff’s Foundation, please visit www.scvsheriffsfoundation.org.