The slain deputy, Ryan Klinkenbrumer, was newly engaged and looking forward to big things
Rep. Ryan Klinkenbrumer EOW 9/16/2023

Co-workers keep in mind Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Klinkenbrumer because the good, reliable kind, “the deputy’s deputy.” (Los Angeles County Police Division)

A younger man stands on the seashore earlier than the waves break, subsequent to his new fiancée. He holds her hand so the entire world can see her engagement ring. They’re each smiling broadly, filled with hope and promise.

The optimism of that second, shared simply final week on Instagram, was shattered instantly Saturday night, when an unknown assailant shot and killed the groom, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Klinkenbrumer.

The 30-year-old lawman, a third-generation member of the Sheriff’s Division, was shot and killed whereas sitting in his patrol automotive at a site visitors mild in entrance of the division’s Palmdale station. There was no clear motive. The suspect has not been recognized.

His colleagues described Klinkenbrummer as a sensible, reliable kind, a “deputy deputy” tasked with educating others methods to do the job the suitable manner. He cherished his job and the folks he labored with, and he aimed to develop into a detective someday, his colleagues mentioned.

“It is not simple to develop into a coaching officer,” mentioned veteran Rep. Andrew Cronin. “It’s important to undergo a probationary course of, have some expertise within the division and a few smarts — and Ryan suits that.”

Cronin, who labored with Klinkonbrumer’s father, Michael, mentioned the 2 males had been very related. “His father was very pleasant as a sergeant, very loving,” Cronin mentioned. “He was a private picture of his father. He was all the time calm and picked up and dealt with each scenario that manner.”

Rep. William Warner, who educated the youthful Klinkenbrumer, referred to as him “a pleasure to work with.” He mentioned the younger MP’s willpower to comply with within the footsteps of his father and grandfather was evident in his work ethic.

“He simply needed to do the perfect he might, do his small half to make a distinction in one of the simplest ways he might,” Warner mentioned.

Clinkunbroomer additionally had a straightforward humorousness. Warner recalled being reprimanded as one of many few Miami Dolphins followers he knew. When Warner requested the youthful consultant when he would change his allegiance to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Klinkenbrumer had a favourite response: “The 49ers suck, sir.”

On Saturday night, after a passerby found the wounded deputy in his automotive, emergency crews rushed Klinkenbrumer to Antelope Valley Medical Heart in Lancaster, the place he died. Hours later, deputies loaded Klinkenbrumer’s flag-draped physique right into a truck, which transported him to the county medical expert’s workplace east of downtown Los Angeles.

With sirens blaring and lights flashing, a procession of dozens of police and hearth engines accompanied the physique on the 70-mile journey. Alongside some bridges within the street, police and firefighters stood at consideration and saluted.

“Deputy Sheriff Ryan Klinkenbrumer and his household are an integral a part of the core of the Los Angeles Police Division,” an announcement from ASSN mentioned. Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies. “This painful killing touches the core of our being.

“No phrases can adequately categorical the deep condemnation we really feel in direction of the cowards who dedicated this heinous act.”

“It is unfathomable,” mentioned Cronin, who served the division for 27 years. “He wasn’t doing something however minding his personal enterprise.”

The grief for the younger deputy prolonged past the ranks of legislation enforcement, to the neighborhood and buddies, together with schoolmates from West Ranch Excessive Faculty in Stevenson Ranch.

“He all the time needed to serve the neighborhood,” Billy Miller, a highschool good friend, advised NBC4 Information on Sunday.

Miller, station reporter, She added her personal comments For her report on the demise of Klinkenbrumer. The 2 had been members of the highschool’s monitor and subject crew and cross nation crew, and had been a part of a gaggle of about eight shut buddies, she mentioned. She remembered the good friend she referred to as “Klink” and described him as “a very good man and a real hero.”

Miller mentioned, her voice choked with emotion: “I all the time hoped to fulfill him within the subject throughout my work… and right here I’m right now.”

Members of the lawmaker’s household mentioned they weren’t prepared to talk on Sunday. However Klinkenbrumer shared along with his coworkers how a lot he cared about his household, his pleasure about marriage (“He was head over heels in love along with his fiancée,” Warner mentioned) and his want to have kids.

“We’re so excited so as to add to our household,” Kim Klinkenbrumer mentioned, asserting her son’s engagement on Instagram final week.

The deputy who educated the fallen lawman defined the heightened feelings inside the Sheriff’s Division. “I hope we will elevate Ryan up and deal with supporting his household and discovering the cowards accountable for this,” Warner mentioned.

Instances employees author Durrani Pineda contributed to this report.

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This story initially appeared on Los Angeles Times.

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