THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME OF WONDER AND JOY, OF GENEROSITY AND PEACE, THAT BRINGS FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION AND SONG. WE SHOW LOVE FOR OTHERS IN THE GIVING OF GIFTS, AND WE OBSERVE THE HALLOWED TRADITIONS THAT MAKE THE SEASON SPECIAL. THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS REFLECTS A DEDICATION TO HELPING THOSE IN NEED, TO GIVING HOPE TO THOSE IN DESPAIR, AND TO SPREADING PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING BY EACH INDIVIDUAL ACT. IT IS THIS SAME SPIRIT THAT I SEE EVERYDAY IN THE ACTIONS AND TASKS EMBARKED UPON BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WE ALSO TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT THEIR LOVED ONES. WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NATION’S MILITARY PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY OUR DEDICATED DEPARTMENT MEMBERS SERVING ABROAD IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WITH THEIR RESERVE UNITS. THESE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS EXEMPLIFY THE PROUD HERITAGE OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE WITH OUR MOTTO “A TRADITION OF SERVICE,” TAKEN TO HEART IN AN UNWAVERING EXAMPLE OF A CALL TO DUTY, A CALL TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY. THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION IS HELPING KEEP US SAFE AND EXTENDING FREEDOM AND PEACE AROUND THE WORLD. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE. YOU MAKE US PROUD!

AS WE REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR, LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE VALIANT EFFORT AND ULTIMATE SACRIFICE MADE BY DEPUTY MICHAEL ARRUDA. MICHAEL GAVE HIS LIFE IN PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY. HIS SPIRIT LIVES WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND THE MEMORIES AND SMILES HE BROUGHT TO ALL OF US WILL BE FOREVER ENGRAVED IN OUR SOULS.

THIS YEAR IN THE MIDST OF EXTRAORDINARY TIMES, OUR DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRIVE FORWARD. WE HAVE SEEN A MARKED INCREASE IN THE RECRUITMENT OF BOTH SWORN AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUILDING OF THREE NEW SHERIFF’S STATIONS AND THE ADDITION OF THE $100 MILLION LOS ANGELES REGIONAL CRIME LABORATORY.

FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND SWORN. WE DEPEND ON THE EFFORTS OF THE EXPERIENCED, DEVOTED AND TALENTED
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. THIS NEW YEAR PROMISES MANY NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING THEM WITH YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL SHARE MY RESOLUTION FOR THE COMING YEAR TO PUT OUR BEST FORWARD, TO COMMIT OURSELVES IN HONORABLY PERFORMING OUR DUTIES WITH RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE AND HELPING FULFILL OUR HOPE FOR A BETTER AND MORE PEACEFUL WORLD.

MY WIFE CAROL JOINS ME IN WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. MAY THE PEACE AND GOODWILL OF THE SEASON FILL EVERY HEART AND WARM EVERY HOME.