Sunday, August 31, 2008, will mark seven years since Deputy Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Jake was shot and killed in the line of duty while assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms during the service of a search warrant on Friday, August 31, 2001, in Stevenson Ranch. He was 40 years old.
Jake, was a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and had been assigned to the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station since 1995. Jake was an avid motorcyclist and after serving in many other capacities at the station had been assigned as a motor officer in the Santa Clarita Valley for six months prior to his untimely death.
In 1989, Deputy Kuredjian was awarded the Sheriff's Department's Gold Meritorious Conduct Medal by former Sheriff Sherman Block for saving the life of a woman clinging to a small tree branch atop a cliff in the City of Malibu.
Jake is survived by his mother, two brothers and his girlfriend. He will be remembered as a kind hearted, "happy-go-lucky" man who brought a smile to the face of anyone he came in contact with.
As a tribute to our fallen comrade, all on-duty deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will wear long sleeve Class “A” uniforms with a tie, and drive with their headlights on during daylight hours on Sunday, August 31, 2008. We encourage residents of the Santa Clarita Valley to join us in this tribute by also using headlights during daylight hours. On-duty deputies will also wear black memorial bands on their badges, will view Jake's memorial video, and will file past his memorial picture prior to going into service for their shift to protect the Santa Clarita Valley. Flowers will also be placed at Jake's picture.
On Friday, August 30, 2001, then Station Captain Donald Rodriguez proudly dedicated the Jake Kuredjian Memorial Rose Garden at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station courtyard in remembrance of Jake and Deputy Arthur Pelino, the first Santa Clarita Valley Deputy to be killed in the line of duty on March 19, 1978. The garden, with its serene waterfall and pond is a place where all station personnel can visit and relax or reflect on Jake, Arthur, and their service to the Santa Clarita Valley. Commemorative plaques with both deputies' pictures also overlook the garden. The garden was originally coordinated by the Station Historian Estelle Foley and Deputy Mike Chinery. It was recently completely rejuvenated by cadets from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy Class #359 in tribute to Jake.
A beautifully engraved monument dedicated to Jake in Stevenson Ranch was unveiled on November 1, 2001, at the corner of Stevenson Ranch Parkway and Poe Parkway. It serves as a prevalent community reminder to keep Jake's memory alive in the community and remind us all of sacrifice he made. It is also a peaceful park like setting and area were residents and deputies can go to relax and remember Jake.
On Wednesday, October 6, 2004, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Fifth Supervisorial District, joined District Attorney Steve Cooley; Sheriff Lee Baca; Greg Williams, President of Newhall Land and Farm; Garo and Raffi Kuredjian, Deputy Jake Kuredjian's brothers; and Mrs. Kuredjian, Jake's mother in a ceremony to dedicate Jake Kuredjian Park at 26265 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch, which was created to honor the memory of Jake. A Newhall Street was also named after Jake.
"On Friday, August 31, 2001, the sunshine seemed to dim, laughter faded away and there was a little less joy in the world because Deputy Hagop 'Jake' Kuredjian was taken from us. A deranged man wielding a rifle took his life, in a brief moment of time, leaving his family and an army of friends to mourn his loss.
"In the short time since his tragic death at 40 years old, I have been overwhelmed by the stories of how much life Jake packed into the relatively short time he was with us. If friends were counted as income, Jake was one of the richest men in the world! While we can't help but grieve his passing, I am determined to remember that million dollar smile and the fact he would give the shirt off his back to help a family member, friend or stranger. Let us remember Jake enjoying a good prank, telling a joke or riding down the road on his Harley. Please never forget that Jake willingly put his life at risk to come to the aid of residents and law enforcement personnel who were in peril. Most of all, if you have not already done so, thank God for sharing Jake with us, even if just for a little while."
— Lee Baca, Sheriff
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
