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Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Takes On New Role With County

A longtime law enforcement officer in Southern California has taken on a major new role with Santa Barbara County.

County Undersheriff Barney Melekian has been named the county’s new Assistant County Executive Officer for Public Safety.

In his new post, Melekian will be responsible for coordinating interdepartmental efforts for public safety and justice. He’ll be one of four Assistant County Executive Officers helping to manage the county. Melekian came to the county as Undersheriff in 2015.

His more than four decade long law enforcement career includes more than 20 years with the Santa Monica Police Department, and 13 years as Pasadena’s Police Chief.  Melekian is expected to transition to his new post in September.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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