The Adelanto City Council will soon bid farewell to Police Capt. Ken Lutz after 35 years of service in District 23.
Lutz officially announced his retirement plans to the public at the Sept. 10 council meeting. His last day in uniform will be Jan. 9.
Although he has made no public comment on what he will do with his free time, his tried endeavor for the empty seat on the Victorville City Council suggests a continued role in public works. The seat went to Corrine Mora; however, that District 2 seat is up for re-election in November 2026. New — and returning — contenders are sure to battle the newcomer for the seat.
Also new for Lutz is his marriage to Isaiah M. The timely retirement gives Lutz time to enjoy married life.
Adelanto City Council members and representatives from the offices of Sen. Suzette Valladares and Rep. Jay Obernolte presented Lutz with special recognition at the Dec. 10 council meeting.
Apparent from the speeches was that Lutz is beloved by the Adelanto community because he shows up. Whether he’s handing out turkeys or participating in a school fundraiser, Lutz is a servant to his community.
Lutz left the residents of Adelanto with this: “I love the High Desert; we are not second-class citizens.”
‘I wish we could have had you longer’
Adelanto City Council members were sad to see their police captain go.
Mayor Pro Tem Ramos says he will miss Lutz, but knows he won’t be going anywhere far. He commemorated the police captain for changing the way Adelanto residents feel about cops.
Councilwoman Stevevonna Evans agreed, stating that she was one of those people, a “huge law enforcement hater.”
She says that under Lutz, however, positive policing started happening for the first time in Adelanto, and body cams were finally incorporated. According to Evans, the two previous police captains said it couldn’t be done due to a lack of funding.
“It’s not just my mind that you changed, it’s a plethora of residents that now feel that they can have a relationship with law enforcement.”
Evans supported Lutz in his endeavor to run for the vacant Victorville City Council seat after former Councilwoman Debra Jones stepped down. She says she will also support Lutz with whatever decision he makes come next November.
Additionally, both Lutz and Councilwoman Amanda Uptergrove wiped away tears as she thanked him for saving her son’s life following a recent accident. “If it wasn’t for you going above and beyond what was required, I don’t know that our son would be here.”
Mayor Gabriel Reyes tuned into the council meeting virtually, as he was dealing with a family medical emergency. He said from his invisible spot on dais that the next Adelanto captain will have some major shoes to fill. “I wish we could have had you longer. We are all genuinely mad that you have to retire.”
McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: ‘I wish we could have had you longer.’ Adelanto bids farewell to police captain
Reporting by McKenna Mobley, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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