CITY SEEKS CARBON COPY OF CAPTAIN.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

While the process of finding a new sheriff's captain has just begun, potential candidates for the job might want to know that Santa Clarita government officials have identified the perfect person for the post: Mike Quinn.

The problem is Capt. Quinn, chief of the local station, has been promoted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and will be transferred. City officials are looking for a carbon copy.

``We are looking for the best - leader, someone creative and who works well with people and Quinn has been all of that,'' said City Manager George Caravalho, who will help choose Quinn's replacement.

City spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said Quinn will be sorely missed.

``We are sorry to see him go. We're happy for him and what we need is someone with Quinn's attributes,'' Ortiz said.

Quinn took over the Santa Clarita sheriff's station in 1994, following a successful stint as captain in the Crescenta Valley. Under his direction, Santa Clarita has maintained its status as one of America's safest cities.

``That's what we want is someone who will help to move us into the 21st century maintaining that safest city tag,'' Caravalho said.

Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy said Quinn had a natural and effective way of working with people and cared about the community. ``He would go to functions on his own at night and he really helped the city. I am distressed to see him go, we had such a great working relationship,'' Darcy said.

Sheriff Sherman Block notified Quinn of his promotion last week. The 32-year veteran said he was surprised at the promotion. ``It was such a pleasant surprise, I had no idea. It was totally unexpected,'' Quinn said. The soon-to-be commander joined the department in 1966 and climbed steadily through its ranks. Quinn went on to the then-new Emergency Services Detail after graduating from the academy.

After five years on the detail, Quinn was promoted to the Sheriff's Information Bureau in Los Angeles and became a sergeant three years later. He spent eight years in the Norwalk station where he was promoted to lieutenant and later was named acting station commander. After serving in the vice bureau and in West Hollywood, Quinn was promoted to captain and sent to the Crescenta Valley and then Santa Clarita.

Councilwoman Jan Heidt said replacing Quinn won't be easy. ``We want somebody who knows our community and has a record in community policing. I am pleased for Quinn, but I hate to lose him,'' Heidt said. Even the captain himself had trouble answering the question of who he would select to replace him. ``I'm sure it will be someone good but I don't want to speculate,'' Quinn said.

And although Quinn said any of his current lieutenants would do a fine job as captain, city officials said they expect the candidates all will be captains now at other posts.

A list of candidates will be given to the city. Councilman Carl Boyer said it will be important for sheriff's and government officials to carefully scrutinize each candidate. ``My major concern is that we have people in the department who are really good with the public and treat them well,'' Boyer said. ``Yet, they must be firm enough to enforce the law.''