Change of Command at Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station

• New Captain Has Diverse Professional Background and a Mean ‘Jump Shot’

BY ANNE SOBLE

A changing of the guard took place at Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station this month with the former station head, Captain Tom Martin, being promoted to the rank of commander and reassigned to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s downtown headquarters, and recently promoted Captain Joseph H. Stephen, a 25-year LASD veteran, taking over the local station’s helm.
The Lost Hills Station provides the City of Malibu with contract traffic and general law enforcement, covers unincorporated Malibu as part of its countywide law enforcement responsibilities, and provides contract enforcement services to Agoura Hills, Calabasas and other adjacent communities.
Commander Martin, who had held the top job at Lost Hills since 2003, is the new head of the LASD’s detective operations, including homicide and the major crimes unit.
Martin is going to be accorded the City of Malibu’s highest honor, a Malibu tile, at next Monday’s city council meeting.
Marking his return to Lost Hills, Captain Joseph Stephen began his career with the LASD in May 1984 as an “off-the-streeter” at the Hall of Justice Jail, at the same time that he became a member of Class 224 at the Sheriff’s Training Academy.
His first assignment after graduation with the rank of sheriff’s deputy was the Biscaluz Center Jail. Other assignments as a deputy included the Marina del Rey Station, where he was a field training officer, detective and watch deputy.
In 2000, Stephen was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the Century and Compton Stations.
Captain Stephen was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2005. He then held assignments at Malibu/Lost Hills Station, Recruit Training Unit, Community College Bureau and was assigned to the office of Undersheriff Larry Waldie until he was promoted to captain this year and tapped for the top Lost Hills post.
Stephen attended Cerritos College from 1978 to 1980 and Texas Christian University from 1980 to 1983, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
The new Lost Hills captain received a full athletic scholarship in basketball to Texas Christian and participated in the 1982 National Invitational Tournament.
In 2004, Captain Stephen attended Long Beach State University and received a Master of Arts degree in Emergency Management. He graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisors Leadership Institute the same year.
Stephen resides in Northridge. In his free time, he says that he and his wife of 16 years, Sheila, enjoy family and friends. Stephen also enjoys basketball and football—college and professional, reading and physical fitness training.
LOST HILLS HELM—Captain Joseph H. Stephen assumed command of the sheriff’s station responsible for the greater Malibu area on Feb. 1. He has busy during his first first weeks on the job meeting with local officials and other community representatives.