CLUB FOR KIDS DOUBLES AS STATION FOR DEPUTY.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Anthony McKinnies was in trouble when he first met sheriff's Deputy Harry Hauge. The Saugus High student had been in a fight at school and the deputy sat him down for a long, serious talk.

That was five years ago.

Now the 21-year-old Val Verde man, fresh out of the Army, hopes to land a job with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He credits Hauge with setting him straight.

``He cares about the kids a lot,'' McKinnies said. ``He's trying to change Val Verde. He's trying to get us off the streets and doing things.''

Hauge, a 19-year department veteran, hopes to help other teens under a new program started in June by the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station. The station already places deputies in local junior highs and high schools, and now Hauge hopes to reach out to teens in their own neighborhoods.

For the next year, he will act as coach, mentor and father-figure to Val Verde teens who come to the Boys & Girls Club in Val Verde Park. Under an $80,000 program, paid for by the Sheriff's Department, Hauge will work 40 hours a week with students, helping coach the Boys & Girls Club softball and basketball teams and establishing a tutoring program at the center.

``I want them to see stability,'' said Hauge, a barrel-chested man with a deep, rumbling voice. ``I want them to see that you can be polite, you can be a gentleman or gentlewoman. You can establish pride through yourself.''

Since he began his new assignment, Hauge has taken the youngsters to Dodgers and JetHawks baseball games and to Zuma and Ventura beaches. He transports kids in a 12-passenger van provided for the program.

Eventually he hopes to expand the program and take the youngsters scuba diving, horseback riding and camping. Teens said they appreciate the extra attention.

``He's nice. He shows he cares,'' said Elizabeth Castro, a slight 14-year-old who plays on a softball team at the Boys & Girls Club. ``He's always helping us with batting or catching practice.''

The teens are just getting used to the fact that Hauge is a sheriff's deputy.

``He doesn't give us a hard time,'' Elizabeth said. ``You think he would since he's a cop.''

For five years Hauge worked in local junior highs and high schools investigating crimes on campus, serving as a role model and developing a rapport with students.

He said that experience earned him respect among Val Verde teens.

``A lot of these kids I knew,'' he said. ``That gave me some credibility. I felt if anybody could be acceptable up here, it could be me.''

Hauge's supervisors said his rapport with teens, experience as a school-resource deputy and athletic background made him the right choice for the job.

``You put all these things together, and you come out with your No. 1 choice,'' Capt. Mike Quinn said.

The deputy hopes to change many teen-agers' negative perception of law-enforcement officials. He already has organized a practice softball session between the youngsters and a team of deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

``We get down on kids too quickly,'' he said. ``Sometimes we don't listen to them or where they're coming from.''

But Hauge's attempt to show the teens a softer side of the law doesn't mean he plans all play and no work for students. When school starts in September, he wants to tutor students and establish a study hall. He plans to focus on students in the fifth, sixth and seventh grades.

``That's where their self-esteem begins to be stepped on,'' he said. ``They act out aggressively. The only way for them to get noticed is to act negatively.''

Hauge says he wants to teach the students that there are ways to stand out positively - and to shine.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Sheriff's Deputy Harry Hauge relaxes with, from left , Christopher Stephenson, Orlando Henderson and Eddie Domrique, all 14, and David Cardenas, 15, at the Boysol & Girls Club in Val Verde Park, where Hauge is working regularly.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News