Ride-along follows Deputy Routh through 10-hour Kern Valley patrol shift

Kern County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Routh handled two traffic stops, a trespassing complaint, an unsuccessful attempt to serve a felony warrant and a fight involving about 15 people during his 10-hour patrol shift Aug. 24 in the Kern River Valley.

The Kern Valley Sun accompanied Routh from 2 to 10 p.m. His regular shift runs from 2 p.m. to midnight.

The ride-along showed how traffic stops, background checks, call documentation and travel between the valley’s communities fill a deputy’s shift, even when deputies are not moving directly from one emergency to another.

“This is about what 90% of being proactive looks like,” Routh said while driving through an area known for recurring calls. “It’s just driving around looking for something.”

During the first traffic stop, Routh notified dispatch, checked the driver’s identification for outstanding warrants and completed a stop-data entry under California’s Racial and Identity Profiling Act, commonly called RIPA.

During a second stop, Routh assisted Lt. Steven Davis and conducted another identification and background check. Routh used the patrol vehicle’s computer-aided dispatch system to review information connected to the person and vehicle.

After each stop, Routh completed the required documentation while continuing to monitor radio traffic.

“Some days you get all these calls, and you don’t get any of your admin work done,” Routh said. “Some days you have all the time in the world.”

Call totals do not show how much time deputies spend traveling. The distance between South Lake, Kernville, Wofford Heights and other Kern River Valley communities can create lengthy drives between incidents.

During the ride-along, radio traffic included a request for assistance involving a person threatening suicide and reportedly armed with a firearm in South Lake. A deputy responding to that call could be coming from another incident in Kernville or Wofford Heights, requiring deputies to cross a large patrol area while deciding which calls need the most immediate response.

Routh said deputies must consider the urgency of a call while still reaching the scene safely.

That balance became clear later when dispatch reported a fight involving about 15 people. One deputy was initially responding alone, prompting Routh and other deputies to head toward the scene.

“Getting there safe is the most important thing,” Routh said. “Getting there quick and safe.”

Deputies arrived and began separating the parties, identifying potential victims and suspects and speaking with witnesses. They had to sort through conflicting accounts to establish how the fight started and what happened before their arrival.

One person repeatedly interrupted the investigation and was temporarily detained while deputies worked to calm the situation. Deputies released the person after the individual calmed down.

The detention allowed deputies to continue interviewing witnesses and explain why they needed to keep the parties separated. No immediate arrest resulted from the detention.

Earlier in the shift, Routh responded to a trespassing complaint at a boarded residence. He walked the property, spoke with the people present and determined who had permission to be there.

Routh learned that the people were waiting for Southern California Edison to restore power and had a legitimate reason to be on the property. He documented the circumstances in the call notes rather than making an arrest.

Routh explained that trespassing complaints often come from neighbors concerned about activity at an apparently vacant property rather than from the property owner. Deputies must determine who owns or controls the property before deciding whether someone is trespassing.

“A lot of the trespassing stuff becomes an ongoing issue,” Routh said.

Deputies also attempted to serve a felony warrant during the shift. Before approaching the residence, they discussed where each deputy should stand and how to cover possible exits if the suspect attempted to run.

The suspect was not home, and deputies did not take anyone into custody.

Sgt. Costello arrived during the attempt and used the situation as a teaching moment. He emphasized properly securing the property before leaving and making sure deputies’ actions remained above reproach.

Routh said his preferred shift combines calls for service with proactive patrol.

“You’re going call to call to call, and then you just so happen to see a stop,” he said. “I like to be busy.”

Routh also said he uses discretion when handling minor vehicle violations, particularly when a citation could add to the financial burden of someone already struggling. He considers whether enforcement will address a larger problem rather than issuing a citation for every violation he sees.

“Sometimes police work is about putting a Band-Aid on,” Routh said. “Up here, it’s more important to solve things in the long term.”

Routh graduated from Centennial High School in 2022, where he played receiver and safety on the football team. He said football helped prepare him for the physical demands and team discipline of the sheriff’s academy. He also enjoys fishing and off-roading.

Although Routh is early in his law enforcement career, he said the work has changed how he views the problems people face.

“Everything that we go to is someone’s worst day,” he said.

Routh said empathy remains part of law enforcement even when deputies must take enforcement action. He recalled buying food for a man after checking on his welfare because the man said he had run out of money.

“Even if I’m wrong and he’s just taking advantage of my kind heart, so be it,” Routh said.

The Kern Valley Sun’s ride-along ended at 10 p.m. Routh still had two hours remaining in his shift to complete reports and stop data, finish other required work, and respond to any additional calls before midnight.