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Los Angeles Sheriff’s Commander Patrick Maxwell is joined members of his family during this week’s Norwalk City Council meeting. Mayor Luigi Vernola (center) is joined by fellow members of the city council. Kristen Grafft Photo
By Kristin Grafft
Patrick Maxwell was honored at the Norwalk City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 16 for his dedicated service to the Norwalk community after his promotion to commander of the sheriff’s South Patrol Division.
Maxwell served the past six years as captain of the Norwalk sheriff’s station and has been with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years.
Mayor Luigi Vernola described Maxwell as someone who cares deeply about community service.
One of Maxwell’s many accomplishments within the community has been the youth intervention PRIDE program, which he initiated nearly 10 years ago when he arrived at the station.
The program is described as being “designed to educate kids between the ages of 12-16 of the choices they are making in life and the road those choices are going to lead them.”
In a statement by Maxwell he described the highlight of his career as seeing Marcos Orozco, a young man whom he had arrested three years ago, take part in La Mirada High School’s graduation ceremony. Orozco’s life was turned around after participating in the PRIDE program.
As sheriff’s commander, Maxwell will now be overseeing operation in 6 cities, including Norwalk.
Maxwell said he gives his 100% full support to his replacement, Captain Curtis Jensen.
The newly appointed captain was also present at the City council meeting and said, “I stand before you humbled… It does not go unnoticed by me that I have big shoes to fill.”
Jensen commented that he would work on what is left to do in the city, but Maxwell has already done so much.
Jensen ended his comments by saying, “I consider myself perhaps the luckiest captain in the world right now – to be given this incredible privilege, to serve with these great men and women at Norwalk Sheriff Station and to be welcomed into this great community in Norwalk. And I so look forward to working with all of you.”
