Retiring Penrod gets send-off at groundbreaking ceremony

BARSTOW • On his first day of work as a lieutenant at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Barstow station in 1987, Gary Penrod had a harsh introduction to the city’s often dicey weather.

“It was 113 degrees outside,” recalled Penrod, whose retirement on Friday ends a 37-year career with the department. “Then all of a sudden the wind was blowing really hard, so hard that rocks the size of golf balls were flying around.”

City politicans and law enforcement officials gathered on Thursday for an event that doubled as a send-off for Penrod and groundbreaking ceremony for a major remodeling of the Barstow sheriff’s station.

Penrod said he has pushed for a long time for the $3.5-million expansion, which includes an addition of 4,000 square feet to the station’s west end, 40 more spaces to the parking lot and an overhaul to its lobby, locker rooms, briefing rooms and restrooms. Major construction in the station’s lobby and reception areas began this month and are expected to be completed in March.

“It only took 14 years, but it’s finally here,” Penrod said with a laugh. “We’ve come close to getting it off the ground a few times, but finally the stars aligned when we got the money we needed from the county.”

Expansion to county stations has been one of Penrod’s longest-running priorities, he said. First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said that since his first day in office, Penrod quickly made it clear that the sheriff’s facilities in Barstow needed major improvements.

“The day I was appointed, Sheriff Penrod came to me and said, ‘Let’s take a ride, I’m going to bring you to the Barstow station to show you why it needs expansion,’” Mitzelfelt said. “This remodeling has been long overdue. The staff has been working in virtually the same station for 40 years.”

Improvement to station facilities will streamline police operations, according to Steve Klausner, an architect for the Santa Monica-based design firm overseeing a part of the renovation.

“There’s going to be a more efficient method and system to the way evidence is cataloged, stored and used for cases just by revamping the evidence room,” said Klausner.

Capt. Cliff Raynolds said he was proud to celebrate Penrod’s retirement at the groundbreaking ceremony because he was a pivotal advocate for the station’s expansion.

“We’re losing a very important man in our lives,” Raynolds said. “[Penrod] is not a guy who comes in and doesn’t make an impact. You can tell how much of an impact by all the officers on graveyard shifts that came to say goodbye to him today.”

Other county officials also described Penrod as a law enforcement official that has kept a high standing in the county throughout his career.

“He has a good reputation and has maintained that,” said Beverly Lowry, director for the Mojave Water Agency. “I think he’s very young for retirement because I’d love to keep him another 10 years.”

Penrod said he has other plans.

“When I’m retired, I’m looking forward to doing everything I want to do,” he joked.

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