Amber Siratt - Kern Valley Sun

Bakersfield American Legion Post 26 recently honored local Sheriff Deputy Joe Garcia as Officer of the Year at an awards ceremony which also honored Bakersfield Police Officer Eric South and California Highway Patrol Officer Matt Iturriria.

Deputy Garcia, who was nominated for the award by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, has been a member of the Kern County Sheriff Department since August 2001 and has been assigned to the Kern Valley Substation since August 2003. Garcia is currently the School Resource Officer for the Kernville Union School District. As Resource Officer, Deputy Garcia teaches the 'Second Step' curriculum to third, fourth, seventh and eighth grades at Wallace Elementary and Middle School, Kernville Elementary and Rio Vista Community Day School. In the Second Step program, academics is incorporated with emotional learning to provide children with essential social skills such as empathy, problem solving, emotion management and cooperation. By students learning and practicing such skills, it helps them in the classroom, on the playground and at home.

Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Garcia, center, is flanked by Kern County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Speer, left, and Lt. Wheeler at the American Legion ceremony honoring Garcia.

In nominating Deputy Garcia, Sheriff Youngblood said, 'I feel Deputy Garcia’s interaction with the students spreads a positive light on all law enforcement officers in general.'

In schools throughout the Kern River Valley, Deputy Garcia, rehearses lockdown drills with the students, teachers and staff. Deputy Garcia teaches the students that these drills are important to not only their safety but the safety of all on campus. He has helped facilitate lock down procedures with the administration and staff for schools in the Kernville Union School District and South Fork School District.

Another example of Garcia’s dedication is his involvement with the Sheriff’s Activity League, 'SAL' Program which he helped establish in the Kern River Valley only a few months ago. 'Deputy Garcia immediately stepped up and volunteered to take on this additional task,' said Youngblood. Since the program started in February, the local SAL program has participated in the annual Sheriff’s Activity League Fishing Derby, Kern River Valley Heart Walk, attending the Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo and delivering handmade Easter baskets to residents of local retirement homes. 'I feel that Deputy Garcia’s actions will touch many lives of the youth here in the Kern River Valley and although we may not see the results of his actions for several years to come, I feel that Deputy Garcia will change the lives of many children and lead them in a positive direction in life and away from possible criminal activities,' noted Youngblood.

Along with his commitment to the schools and children of the Kern River Valley, Deputy Garcia also patrols the local communities. Sheriff Youngblood commended Garcia by explaining, 'I feel he devotes 100% of his efforts to the citizens and the visitors to the Kern River Valley.'