The Signal, CA
Aug 29 2004
Remembering a Fallen Deputy
Judy O’Rourke [Signal Staff Writer]
He was shot and killed while assisting federal officers serve a
search warrant on a home in Stevenson Ranch.
Three years later, the raw memory of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Deputy Hagop `Jake’ Kuredjian’s death is fresh in the minds of fellow
deputies, making it too painful to talk about him. So their superiors
talk for them.
`I think the third anniversary of Kuredjian’s death causes me to
pause and still feel the anger and resentment for his senseless
murder,’ said Sheriff Lee Baca, speaking on behalf of deputies who
`can’t speak.’
`There’s the pain from the killing of a good man who’s doing the
right thing and protecting the people of Santa Clarita,’ he said. `It
isn’t something we’re going to accept.’
Keeping the slain deputy’s memory alive will make people aware of
the perils faced by law enforcement officers, Baca said. Every deputy
who knew him suffered a personal loss, always with the knowledge,
`there but for the grace of God go them.’
Kuredjian was shot and killed Aug. 31, 2001, while aiding the
federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms serve a search
warrant on a man suspected on impersonating a federal agent. The raid
was televised and received broad media coverage. Hundreds of officers
responded to the scene, including the Sheriff’s Department’s
special-weapons team.
Sheriff honor guards from Los Angeles and Ventura counties
carried the deputy’s flag-draped coffin into St. Mary’s Armenian
Apostolic Church in Glendale for Kuredjian’s funeral; an estimated
4,000 came to pay tribute.
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Patti Minutello said
she did not know the man. But she has heard the stories.
`Working around deputies who did know him, they say only
wonderful things,’ she said. `It’s been three years, (but) I don’t
think it’s gotten much easier. It’s still hard for them to accept
what happened. I don’t think you ever get over an experience like
this.’
Law enforcement officers need to develop an outer protection
because they see so much tragedy every day, she said. They have to
fight to avoid personal involvement or they wouldn’t be able to
function on a daily basis. But the protective shells can be very
fragile.
`We do get emotionally and personally wrapped up in cases,’ she
said. `We are empathetic; we care. We don’t have the ability to show
it all the time … (because) we have to be prepared to handle the
next call.’
Every year on the anniversary of Kuredjian’s death, deputies at
the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station wear the class A uniform. The
dress uniform.
Among the Santa Clarita Valley memorials to `Deputy Jake’ are a
Newhall street named for him and a park in Stevenson Ranch set aside
in his honor and quietly opened to the public Aug. 10.
Garo Kuredjian, a senior deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s
Department, said he is honored people have not forgotten about his
brother.
`It was really moving,’ he said earlier of a visit to the park
with his mother and aunt. `It’s more than a piece of land. It’s in
memory of my brother. It holds a special place in our hearts.’
The official dedication of Jake Kuredjian County Park, named for
the 17-year Sheriff’s Department veteran, is set for Oct. 6. Los
Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who suggested naming
the park for the deputy, is scheduled to host the ceremony.
Kuredjian’s family will be consulted about installing a memorial at
the park, located at 25265 Pico Canyon Road.