Deputy honored at safety officers appreciation event

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Monday, May 5, 2008.
By ALISHA SEMCHUCK

LANCASTER - It takes more than a badge and a baton to make a peace officer worthy of special recognition, according to officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

It takes public servants who truly care about people, care about community and care about upholding the law. Deputy Sheriff Gregory Chatman of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station exhibits those traits and then some, qualities that earned him the Deputy Stephen Sorensen Award during a prayer service Sunday at Lancaster Baptist Church, where parishioners honored Public Safety Officers Appreciation Day.

"Deputy Steve Sorensen lost his life in the line of duty," Pastor Paul Chappell told the congregation of roughly 2,000 people attending the service. "In 2005, we instituted the Steve Sorensen Award."

Sorensen, the deputy assigned to the Lake Los Angeles area, died from wounds on Aug. 2, 2003, after being attacked and shot while responding to a trespassing call in Llano.

"This award is special, because of the kind of person Steve Sorensen was," said Capt. Carl Deeley, former commander of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station. Deeley shared an example of Sorensen's level of commitment to his job.

Sorensen kept purchasing "huge amounts of food at a market in Lake Los Angeles, and the store owner jokingly asked if he had a tapeworm. Sorensen explained the groceries were for a couple of families in the community having a rough time," Deeley said. "So that store owner pitched in to help."

Deeley said Sorensen was "like the old-time beat cop. The greatest thing about him, Steve had a servant's heart."

In selecting a recipient for this award, Deeley said, "we look for not just a great cop, but people that set a great example for others."

"He's one of our school resource deputies," said Capt. Axel Anderson, in reference to Chatman.

Anderson began his new post at the helm of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station on April 6, as Deeley moves on in command of eight stations.

Anderson described Chatman as "a large, powerful cop, the kind you like having back you up. More importantly, he has a large heart."

Anderson told of the programs that Chatman created for students enrolled at Littlerock High School and how the deputy volunteered on his time off duty to assist with the campus beautification project.

Anderson also mentioned that the deputy served as a mentor for a student having some difficulties.

"He's been there for family members on two occasions when Littlerock students were killed," Anderson said.

Sorensen's widow, Christine, had a prior commitment Sunday, but videotaped a message thanking Chappell and the Lancaster Baptist Church for continuing to honor the memory of her husband.

"Greg, I don't know if you knew how much respect Steve had for you, but he did," she said. "You are a man of great integrity and passion."

"I need to take a breath," Chatman said as he accepted the award.

"For those of you who know me, I'm always without (many) words. But, when I was told about this two weeks ago, I was speechless - misty-eyed as I am now," he said.

"At Lancaster Sheriff's Station, it's easy to be a leader because you are asked and encouraged to be a leader." Chatman paid homage to Sorensen.

"He was one of the first guys to respond to Littlerock High School when I needed it. He was a great guy, a great guy." Chatman said he was overwhelmed and ecstatic about being honored.

"I knew Steve personally. He's a very hard act to follow. For my name to be mentioned in the same sentence as him is an honor in itself."

There are "many men and women at our station that I feel are equally deserving of the award," he said.

Chatman sent his blessings to the Sorensen family.

And, he added, "I want to thank my captain and supervisors at the Lancaster station, and all of my peers. I want to take the time to thank God. Without him, nothing else is possible."

Chappell had a second award, the Faithful Service Award, which he presented to Deeley.

"I thought I was going to escape this year," Deeley said. "So I'm a bit surprised."

The captain expressed his gratitude to the "Lancaster Baptist Church family" for being host to Public Safety Officers Appreciation Day every year.

The day extols the work of peace officers, firefighters and paramedics who respond to crisis scenes of all magnitudes.

Chappell called all those public servants attending the service to the stage, and they filled it from the far left to the far right.

Chappell also recognized Capt. Bob Denham of the Palmdale Sheriff's Station, who recently took over that post from Capt. John Witt.

Chappell thanked state Sen. George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner for their presence at special church events and their support of stricter law enforcement measures in California.

"It's great that Lancaster Baptist always honors local law enforcement and public safety officers each year," the assemblywoman said.

"I think it's wonderful whenever we can honor those public servants who keep our streets and our residents safe," the senator said.

"A year ago, if somebody said I was going to be mayor, I would have questioned their sanity. Now they question mine," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.

He recalled a meeting of city officials, church members and other concerned individuals a year or so ago to discuss public safety issues.

"At the end of the line was Mrs. Sorensen," he said. Parris said she politely waited her turn to speak and didn't seek any special attention. Yet her words made an indelible impact.

"Steve would be alive today if we had the resources our deputies our deputies needed," Parris quoted the deputy's widow as saying.

"You will never be without the resources you need from the city of Lancaster again," Parris said. "I promise you that."

Parris also told the crowd that he, Councilman Ron Smith and Councilwoman Sherry Marquez will lead the city "with biblical values. And we will never be ashamed to say that."


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