Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna couldn’t help but get emotional as he held a news conference Monday announcing that a suspect has been arrested in the brutal murder of 30-year-old Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer.
I want to let our community know that Deputy Clinkunbroomer left his family tonight to serve our community. He risked everything to serve us. He wore a uniform, like others @LASDHQ carrying officers, riding in a police car, and he was senselessly murdered tonight. pic.twitter.com/Jqc2sSB63c
— Robert Luna (@LACoSheriff) September 17, 2023
Suspect of murder of police officers arrested
Mediaite reported that Kevin Cataneo Salazar was taken into custody by a sheriff’s SWAT team early Monday morning.
“I want to pause for a moment as I talk about how proud I am of this department after a significant tragedy that we shared with all of you because those special enforcement agents took the time to try to de-escalate this. and peacefully take this individual into custody, knowing our deputy was not given the same opportunity,” said a visibly emotional Sheriff Luna. “He never gave our deputy a chance.”
Deputy Clinkunbroomer was a 30-year-old field training officer who was fatally shot Saturday evening while on duty and sitting in his marked car near the Palmdale Police Department, according to Fox News.
‘At the end of the day he was in a black and white drawing, right here in front of the station, and he was murdered. Ambushed by a coward,” Luna continued. “Our officers, our deputies go out every day to serve this community and put their lives on the line. So we have a lot to be thankful for that we have men and women who volunteer to do this and families who kiss them goodbye and just pray. that they will come home again. And in this case, Ryan’s family will never see him again.”
LASD Sheriff Luna: Suspect in Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s Murder Identified as 29-Year-Old ‘Kevin Gatiano Salazar’ in Custody pic.twitter.com/4OKRjpZlTU
– Alexandra Datig | Front Page Index 🇺🇸 (@alexdatig) September 18, 2023
Related: New bill would make assaulting law enforcement officers a deportable crime
Sheriff Luna calls on Woke District Attorney Gascon to take action
Luna then called on progressive prosecutor George Gascon to prosecute Salazar to the fullest extent of the law.
“I personally spoke with the district attorney this morning and he assures me they will aggressively pursue this case,” he said.
Gascon was noticeably absent from the press conference on Monday.
Support conservative voices!
Sign up to receive the latest news political news, insights and commentary straight to your inbox.
“I have been in personal contact with Sheriff Luna regarding this investigation and have promised him that my office will aggressively prosecute the suspected killer for this cowardly and senseless attack,” Gascon said in a statement.
“Deputy district attorneys from the Crimes Against Peace Officers Division responded the night this heinous crime occurred and are in regular contact with LASD detectives,” he added. “My office will keep the community informed of developments as we work with our law enforcement partners on this case.”
We will all continue to support you @PalmdaleSheriff deputies, the Clinkunbroomer family and our community during this difficult time.
I am proud of all our officers and detectives, @SEBLASD for their persistent efforts to arrest the suspect involved pic.twitter.com/z8qAfAT5H5
— Robert Luna (@LACoSheriff) September 18, 2023
Related: Police groups blame broken system as cities see crime rise
Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s family is speaking out
Luna concluded the press conference by reading a statement from the Clinkunbroomer family.
“Our son Ryan was a dedicated, hardworking deputy sheriff who enjoyed working here at the Palmdale station,” they said. “He took pride in working with his partners, whom he considered brothers and sisters, while sacrificing daily to improve the community he served. Ryan made the ultimate sacrifice.”
“Ryan recently got engaged to the love of his life,” the family continued. “As our firstborn son, Ryan will be deeply missed by his family, friends and the Sheriff’s Department as a whole.”
Watch the full press conference in the video below.
The anti-police sentiments stirred up by the radical left in recent years have put the lives of our men and women in blue at greater risk than ever before. Please join us in praying for Clinkunbroomer’s family and friends, as well as for the millions of police officers across this country who put their lives on the line every day for the rest of us.
Now is the time to support and share the resources you trust.
The Political Insider is ranked number 3 on Feedspot’s list of ‘100 Best Political Blogs and Websites’.