Located across from Cerritos High School, adjacent to the library, lives a mystical building where police officers and cop cars come and go. Often times, students that travel to the Cerritos Library will walk pass it, but who knows what is inside? What could possibly exist beyond the tinted automatic doors of the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station? A reporter ventured in to find out.

Contrast to the implied dark interior that one might expect upon entering a building, the first thing one would notice are how well lit the lobby is and how high the ceilings are. There are two offices on either side. The one on the right has a sign that reads “Community Safety” and the one on the left reads “Sheriff.”

According Jayne Labbate,  receptionist at the Community Safety Office, the sheriff station is split into two sections: The Community Safety Office handles all the city related matters. This is where tags and fines are issued for violations of regulations such as junk cars in front of houses, paint peeling off house walls, or parking the streets at night.

The two offices also have different recruitment practices.

When asked about her application to the Community Safety Office, Labbate laughed and said, “Just answered an ad in the paper. Been working here for 25 years now.” And when asked about the police recruitment method, “Anything police related, you will have to ask that side,” she said,  gesturing to the Sheriff Office.

The other office has a different reception method. In order to contact the Sheriff side for any matters, one must use the phone to dial a number to contact the people within. Then a deputy will put on a mask and open the window.

Due to various emergency meetings, the Sheriff Office is hard-pressed to spare any manpower to man the front desk. However, information was made readily available in the many pamphlets and brochures by the window. These brochures also contains guides that raises awareness about social media safety, wage theft, online dating safety, infected citrus trees, immigration resources, vehicle burglaries, and more.

It turns out that from the information on the brochure, the sheriff station has a Deputy Explorer Program that trains volunteers from age 14 to 20. The requirements are a minimum  C average grade and a clean record. The 18-week program includes exposure to being a police officer, introduction to care of K9 police dogs, physical training, and more. Graduates of this program will receive a graduation certificate, a Deputy explorers badge and could possibly earn high school credits.

As a crucial part of the community in safety and order, the sheriff’s station is no doubt an important place. However, regardless of the great responsibility that it upholds, the station exists to be community friendly and is very welcoming to any visitors it may have. The sheriffs encourage anyone curious about the building, their roles, and duties to come in for a visit. Or if they are in the event of an emergency, visitors should feel free to look through the various pamphlets and brochures. Though intimidating to unfamiliar people, the sheriff’s station has always and will always be focused on keeping Cerritos safe.