Sheriff’s Altadena Station commemorates 90 years of service

ALTADENA >> Sheriff’s officials joined with the community for a day of fun and reflection to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena Station on Saturday.
Deputies opened up their facilities for an open house during the celebration, held in observance of the opening of the sheriff’s Altadena Station on Aug. 15, 1927.
In addition to barbecue, equipment displays, station tours and kids’ entertainment to mark the occasion, Capt. Vicki Stuckey relayed some of the station’s history, from it’s early days as a sparsely-staffed substation to its modern, and still-expanding, form.
“The reason we are here is to celebrate and acknowledge 90 years of service,” the captain said.
Guests met Bosco, a horse with the Altadena Mounted Posse, got a chance to explore SWAT vehicles and equipment up-close, perused historical photos and chatted with Mountain Search and Rescue Team members, among other law enforcement-related activities on-hand for the day.
Dignitaries who attended to pay their respects included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-Glendale, high-ranking sheriff’s officials and representatives from other law enforcement agencies and others, Altadena Town Council members and others.
A moment of silence was held for the station’s two fallen deputies, whose families were both present at Saturday’s event.
“Thank you so much for sharing your families with us,” Stuckey told the families of the fallen deputies. “We will never forget our fallen comrades.”
Deputy Miesha Santana told of Deputy Charlene Marie Rottler, who died in 2010 from injuries suffered when the patrol car she was riding in was struck by a drunken driver on Nov. 5, 1972.
Rottler was a pioneering women of law enforcement and one of the first women to serve the sheriff’s department in a patrol capacity.
“If it wasn’t for women like Charlene Marie Rottler, I definitely wouldn’t be wearing this uniform,” Santana said.
Deputy Raul Reyes shared the story of Deputy David Stout Larimer, who was struck by a drunken driver on Christmas Eve of 1941 while helping a woman cross the street during bad weather and blackout conditions in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor weeks earlier.
“David Larimer will never be forgotten as we walk in the beat he paved for us a long time ago,” Reyes said.

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