File photo: SCV Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Becker speaks at a Santa Clarita town hall meeting.

[KHTS] – Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Paul Becker will be retiring on Feb. 5, 2014, from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

At several recent events, Lt. Robert Lewis, formerly the Crime Prevention Unit leader at the Santa Clarita Valley Station, has been introduced as the acting captain.

Lewis is expected to hold the interim position until Sheriff Lee Baca makes a decision regarding Becker’s replacement.

“It’s a good spot to be in as I continue to carry out the public safety and crime prevention vision of the city of Santa Clarita and the county of Los Angeles,” Lewis said, adding that since it was an interim title, his goal was to continue the progress of Becker’s leadership until a new captain is assigned. “I want to make sure we continue in the same direction while working to keep crime rates down.”

Capt. Paul Becker

When asked about his preliminary goals, Lewis said that with his Crime Prevention Unit background, it is his intention to re-introduce the unincorporated area Zone Leader Deputy positions, such as those in Castaic (Zone 2), and Stevenson Ranch (Zone 3), that were curtailed in early 2013.

He believes they are a significant part of the successful crime prevention strategy and the station’s overall commitment to providing the highest level of service to all our residents.

The Crime Prevention Unit was formed in direct collaboration with the city of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County under the leadership and direction of Becker, according to the station’s website.

Becker, who’s been with the station since early 2010, came to Santa Clarita from the Sheriff’s Department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit based in downtown Los Angeles. Becker has been a member of the department for more than 30 years.

He’s worked with the city of Santa Clarita and various community leaders to institute a number of programs, including the J-Team, which focuses on juvenile intervention, as well as the DFYiT program, which has been a partnership with the William S. Hart Union High School District and the city of Santa Clarita.

During his three-plus year tenure, crime rates have remained the lowest compared to nearly all sheriff’s station in Los Angeles County.

West Ranch Town Council President Don Fleming, who attended a recent meeting in which Lewis was introduced as the interim captain, praised the Sheriff’s Station’s CPU initiative.

“We were excited about it – that’s good news for us,” Fleming said, who’s president of the council that acts in an advisory capacity for portions of the unincorporated areas on the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley.

“What (the zone leader program) does is, it gives the community a contact person,” Fleming said. “They’re at every one of our meetings, and they give us the crime stats and (crime reports for) what’s happening in our area.”

CAPT PAUL BECKER | LASD Biography

Captain Paul Becker assumed command of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on Monday, March 15, 2010. Captain Becker brings more than 32 years of law enforcement experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to his post.

Captain Becker’s career with the Sheriff’s Department began in 1981 as an Intern at Industry Station and then San Dimas Station until 1984. After graduating from the Sheriff’s Training Academy as a Deputy Sheriff in 1985, he worked at various assignments, including Men’s Central Jail, Carson Station and Lakewood Station. He was also a Detective at Avalon Station and Transit Services Bureau.

When he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2000, he was assigned to Transit Services Bureau as the Detective Sergeant. In 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Palmdale Station, Transit Services Bureau, Contract Law Enforcement Bureau and Homicide Bureau.

His final assignment before his promotion to Captain was with the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, gang task force, unsolved and active murder investigation team. Captain Becker is a Santa Clarita resident.