Lakehead gets a full-time Sheriff's Deputy

REDDING, Calif. — The Shasta County Sheriff's Office is working to fulfill their promise of putting deputies in rural communities.

The Lakehead Volunteer Fire Department will soon have a new logo, as the Shasta County Sheriff's Department will share the same building, having one deputy there when needed.

This is something residents have wanted to have for some time.

"Oh my gosh, it would take one half hour for any sheriff or highway patrol to respond to even a robbery at this particular store right here," Janice Ceccato said.

"My understanding is the sheriff's department is spread so thin that they have done all they could.We will at least have some signage that says we have a deputy in the area and someone closer to respond," Betty Mellon said.

KRCR also spoke with Under-Sheriff Eric Magrini. "Logistically, this is a big county and when you look at staffing and resources, typically, you put these people where the most calls for service are, and that is the valley. We have just been recently able to get a deputy in Shingletown and Lakehead," Magrini said.

While the Sheriff's Office does work hand in hand with other agencies, making sure no call goes unanswered, they heard the needs of rural communities by adding one deputy for the summer.

"That deputy is up there. Summer-time is high traffic up there with all the tourism, campgrounds and houseboats. We feel it is really important to have that deputy up there for not only the tourists, but the residents that work up there and live there as well," Magrini said.

Although that deputy will just be through the summer, the Sheriff's Office has a few people going through the Academy and hopes to have one permanent resident deputy soon.