Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger today led a solemn and heartfelt ceremony officially renaming the Castaic Sports Complex as the Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer Castaic Sports Complex, honoring the life, service, and sacrifice of fallen Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer.
The ceremony included the unveiling of a permanent exterior sign bearing Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s name, along with a commemorative plaque installed inside the gymnasium.
Family members, colleagues, County leaders, and community members gathered to remember a deputy who was deeply rooted in the Santa Clarita Valley and dedicated to public service.
“Deputy Clinkunbroomer embodied the very best of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “He was courageous and had a deep commitment to serving others. By renaming this sports complex in his honor, we are ensuring that his legacy lives on in a place that reflects who he was—a young man who loved his community and gave his life in service to others. As a County, we have a responsibility to honor and stand with the families who have sacrificed so much. Ryan’s name will now be spoken every day by the athletes, children and families who gather here.”
Deputy Clinkunbroomer, 30, was ambushed and murdered in the line of duty on September 16, 2023. An eight-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, he was a fourth-generation LASD deputy, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and was actively involved in sports, making the renaming of the community sports complex especially meaningful.
Sheriff Robert G. Luna, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs President Rich Pippin, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, and Mike Clinkunbroomer, Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s father, also participated in the ceremony and offered remarks honoring his life and service.
“Deputy Ryan Clinkumbroomer embodied the highest values of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “He served with honor and humility and was a cherished community member. We are deeply grateful to Supervisor Barger for her efforts to ensure that Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s legacy of courage, service, and commitment to justice will continue to inspire future generations at the Castaic Sports Complex. Our Department stands with the Clinkunbroomer family today and always, and we will be honored to see Ryan’s name memorialized in the community he grew up in.”
ALADS President Rich Pippin also shared his perspective. “It is an honor for ALADS to stand with the Clinkunbroomer family as we dedicate the Castaic Sports Complex in Ryan’s name,” Mr. Pippin stated. “Ryan represented the very best of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department–professional, respected by his peers, and remarkably kind. He truly set the standard for all of us.”
“The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation is humbled and honored to rename the Castaic Sports Complex in memory of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer,” said Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García González. “Every year, thousands of youngsters who play basketball, skateboard or join a class here will see his name. Seniors who enjoy meals will see his name. Rededicating this complex after Deputy Ryan is an always present reminder for all of us, of everything that is good and hopeful in our world. The Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer Castaic Sports Complex will inspire the community with his character, his legacy, and his joy of sports.”
Mike Clinkunbroomer, Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s father, reflected on his son’s legacy as he wrapped up the ceremony. “Today’s renaming of the Castaic Sports Complex honors Ryan’s life of service, his love for this community, and the selflessness and integrity he showed every day as a deputy,” said Mr. Clinkunbroomer. “We hope this lasting memorial will be a place where children and families make memories–just as Ryan did–and that it inspires others to serve their neighbors. I can hear him laughing now, saying we’ll need a bigger sign to fit his name, so let that smile come first, before the tear.”
Photos and b-roll from today’s renaming ceremony are available for download here.