The Crime Prevention Unit of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is welcoming a new face, as the current Valencia zone leader is being promoted to detective.

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Deputy Regina Yost, who’s been the zone leader for Valencia for the last four years — since the station’s Crime Prevention Unit was formed — is being promoted to detective for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Taking Yost’s place will be Deputy Brian Heischuber, who will have the same direct number as Yost: 661-799-5164. Yost starts her new post Monday.

“I think since we’ve started this program, it’s been a valuable unit for the residents,” said Yost, who’s been with the station for six years. “It’s really helped us gain an understanding of what’s really going on in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Yost’s new assignment entails covering crimes reported on North Los Angeles County college campuses under contract with the Sheriff’s Department, specifically in the San Fernando Valley, she said.

Heischuber has been with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station for more than three years, and he came to the Santa Clarita Valley station from Palmdale.

“I’ve gotten to know all the different areas out here (in the Santa Clarita Valley), and it’s kind of sad,” she said, “because I’ve been able to network with so many different people out here and build a lot of relationships in the community.”

The Crime Prevention Unit began in 2011 under the leadership of former Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Paul Becker.

It helps station deputies, which handles more than 55,000 calls per service and 20,000 crime reports annually, localize their response and offer Santa Clarita residents a deputy directly responsible for their neighborhood, said Deputy Josh Dubin.

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“These numbered zones were created to provide manageable geographical boundaries and identifiers, giving deputies and crime research analysts the ability to scrutinize every element of crime, identify and dissect trends, and ultimately review and direct needed resources, almost immediately, to criminal and nuisance problems,” according to the CPU’s website.

The information helps the zone leaders allocate resources with current Capt. Roosevelt Johnson in weekly operational meetings, where the details of all Part-1 crimes are discussed, logged and addressed, the website states.

Information is also disseminated to residents using Nixle, a free online service that allows the station to send out information to the community, or specific neighborhoods. (Click here to sign up for Nixle reports.)

There are eight crime zones in the Santa Clarita Valley, created by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station with help from city of Santa Clarita experts.

The contact for the respective zones and their leaders are: Zone 1, Gorman area, Deputy John DeYoung, at 799-5801; Zone 2, Castaic and Val Verde area, Deputy Brian Rooney, at 257-4021; Zone 3, Stevenson Ranch and Westridge area, Deputy Jeremy Carr, at 799-5158; Zone 4, Saugus, Deputy Mark Manskar, at 799-5161; Zone 5, Valencia, is Deputy Brian Heischuber at 799-5164; Zone 6, Newhall, Deputy Danial Dantice, at 255-1121, and ask for extension 4411; Zone 7, Canyon Country West area, Deputy Jonathon Wilson, at 799-5159; and Zone 8, Canyon Country East, Deputy Chris Craft, at 255-1121, and ask for extension 4283.

As far as parting words for the community, Yost said she wanted to thank “the Valencians” she was able to build relationships with, and offered words oft-repeated in her Nixle reports.

“It’s been a pleasure serving the Valencia area and, as always, please do not become a victim,” Yost said. “Report suspicious activity and keep your valuables secure.”

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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