Representative Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, sat down with Santa Clarita law enforcement officials to discuss the current state and future role of policing in the SCV.

During a roundtable-style lunch at the Salt Creek Grille, Representative Knight discussed with local enforcement, including local Sheriff’s Station and California Highway Patrol officials, the various aspects and obstacles facing officers including the Opioid Crisis, community engagement, and the new I-5 construction that likely results in new challenges.

“We just wanted to sit down and discuss the issues that may be coming out of the federal, state, and local governments that have to do with crime,” said Knight. “We have big issues facing our community like heroin and the transportation of other drugs, and these types of talks can help us hit this problem hard.”

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“This is a corridor that drugs go through and pass through very quickly,” said Knight. “It’s a big concern when we have overdoses in Santa Clarita, and it’s a big concern when we have overdoses up north and over in Simi Valley.”

In April, Santa Clarita witnessed one death and the hospitalization of nine others due to heroin overdoses in a 24-hour period. All the victims were in their 20s or younger, according to law enforcement officials.

“We have a problem that needs solving, and that’s what we tried doing here today,” said Knight.

Along with discussing the opioid and drug crisis facing the Santa Clarita Valley, Knight and local California Highway Patrol officers discussed transportation and driver safety, especially because of the most recent construction that is underway on the I-5 corridor through Santa Clarita.

Related: I-5 Construction In Santa Clarita To Improve Roads, Traffic Officially Underway

“There’s going to be significant changes in traffic patterns over the next few years,” said Captain Edward A. Krusey of the California Highway Patrol. “And apart of making that safer will be planning ahead, like what we’re doing here.”

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