By Terra Avilla
This week for Why We Love This Place Wednesday, I want to take a minute to recognize Deputy Stephen Lawton with the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department.
Fun fact-Stephen and I actually started in law enforcement within about 6 months of each other, back when I was at the PD. And if you’ve ever been new in this profession, you know that season is a mix of excitement and nerves while you are trying to learn the job, trying to learn the culture, trying to carry yourself like you belong… even when you’re still second-guessing everything in your head.
Not long after we started, our department heads paired us together for a career fair at the college. Looking back, it still makes me laugh a little because we were both really new, and we were being asked to represent the entire profession to students and the community, and we are totally different types of people.
But that day has always stuck with me for a reason. I’ll forever be thankful Stephen was my battle buddy.
When you’re new, you don’t always need someone to hype you up, you need someone steady. Someone who shows up, handles what needs to be handled, and makes things feel manageable just by the way they carry themselves. That’s Lawton.
Over time, Stephen became more than just someone I saw on calls where we were assisting each other’s agencies. He became my friend.
And what I appreciate is that we are very different. Stephen is direct, to-the-point. He’s got that SWAT guy energy focused and composed, not a lot of extra. Me? Well… y’all already know I’m louder. I’m social. I’m a little more “heart on my sleeve.”
And while we don’t always handle calls the same way, and we don’t always approach things the same way – Stephen has always been kind to me. Always respectful. Always consistent. And in a job where stress can change people, and where personalities can clash, that consistency means a lot.
And honestly, one of the things that’s impacted me the most has been watching who Stephen is outside of the uniform. We both had children around the same time and entered this profession practically as newlyweds with our respective spouses.
Seeing him grow as a husband and as a dad has been a really cool experience. Because it reminds me that this job can be a chapter of your life, but it doesn’t have to be your whole identity.
So today, I just want to say thank you, Lawton. For being my battle buddy when we were both new. For always being kind even when we’re different. And for being one of those people who makes Lassen County feel like home.
