On the two-year anniversary of his death, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to rename the Castaic Sports Complex in honor of slain county sheriff's Deputy Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Clinkunbroomer, an eight-year department veteran and fourth-generation member of the agency, was fatally shot Sept. 16, 2023, while sitting in his patrol SUV at a red light near the sheriff's Palmdale station.
"Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was courageous and kind, and someone others could always count on," according to a motion by county Supervisor Kathryn Barger. "As a field training officer, he took great pride in guiding and mentoring new officers, showing them not just how to do the job but how to do it with integrity and heart. To those he trained, he wasn't just a trainer; he was an inspiration and role model they would carry with them always.
"Most of all, Deputy Clinkunbroomer will be remembered as someone who cared and was dedicated to serving his community."
Barger's motion noted that Clinkunbroomer's family is working with the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff's to establish an annual scholarship supporting youth programs at the Castaic Sports Complex.
With the approval of Barger's motion, the sports complex will be renamed the Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer Castaic Sports Complex. New signs and a plaque will be installed, with an overall cost of about $30,000.
"Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer will never be forgotten," Berger said in a statement following the vote. "Renaming the Castaic Sports Complex in his honor is a way to keep his memory alive and ensure future generations know the depth of his commitment to his community. This dedication is more than a name on a building. It's a tribute to his life, his legacy, and the family who proudly carried the badge before him."
The complex at 31230 Castaic Road covers more than 50 acres and includes amenities such as baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a gym, aquatics center, football/soccer fields, meeting rooms, a skate park, walking paths, picnic areas and horseshoe pits.
Clinkunbroomer, 30, was the latest in a line of family members to serve in the sheriff's department. His father, mother, grandfather and great- grandfather all worked for the agency.
The Palmdale man accused of killing Clinkunbroomer in the ambush shooting, Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, is awaiting trial on a murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. He allegedly told a sheriff's investigator that he heard voices in his head, and his family said he suffers from paranoia and schizophrenia.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok