SANTA CLARITA, CA – In case you missed it, this week, Rep. George Whitesides joined the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station to announce key funding with Captain Brandon Barclay, LA Assistant Fire Chief Pat Sprengel, Mayor Laurene Weste, City Manager Ken Stripland, and Stephanie English, representing Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office.

In Congress’ annual budget bill, Rep. Whitesides successfully secured funding to build a new mobile command center for local law enforcement agencies. The new mobile communications hub will improve coordination between law enforcement, firefighters, and medical response teams during moments of crises. 

Read more about Rep. Whitesides’ announcement below:

Santa Clarita Valley Signal: Leaders celebrate $1M in federal funds for command unit 

By Perry Smith | February 17th, 2026

• At the SCV Sheriff’s Station on Tuesday, Whitesides recalled talks he had last year with some of the community’s emergency response leaders, including Barclay, as wildfires burned throughout L.A. County in January 2025. 

• “It was part of the conversations that we were having with the Sheriff’s Department and L.A. County Fire, during the fires last year, and we saw the utility of those kinds of stations,” Whitesides said. “I said if there’s anything I can do to help get them what they need, to do it. So, we put it at the top of our list for our requests, and I was very happy to see that money come through.” 

• Barclay and L.A. County Fire Assistant Chief Pat Sprengel recalled the devastation of the Canyon and Hughes fires “firsthand,” and said a unit like the one the station is purchasing would help bridge any technology gaps.  

• “The ability to maintain a centralized, technologically advanced hub for field operations is not merely a convenience, but a tactical necessity,” Barclay said. “This initiative, spearheaded by Congressman George Whitesides, addresses a critical gap in current infrastructure, replacing the antiquated unit that lacked the robust communication arrays required for contemporary incident command.” 

KHTS: Whitesides Presents $1 Million Grant To Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station

By Steven Barrera | February 18th, 2026

• After securing funds for law enforcement and public safety initiatives in January, Representative George Whitesides presented the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station with a $1 million check to fund a new mobile command center.

• “Representative Whitesides, your support of public safety with the purchase of the mobile command center will no doubt improve our operational effectiveness as we co-locate and command large-scale incidents,” said Assistant Fire Chief Sprengel.

• The $1 million allocated for the mobile command center represents just one-third of the total funding Whitesides secured for law enforcement and public safety initiatives. The remaining funds will go toward advanced equipment for the Lancaster Police Department and support for the Santa Clarita Valley and Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Clubs’ Opioid and Substance Use Prevention Initiative.

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