CHP Officer Kaci Lutz – photo by Virginia Lazar
OAKHURST — Many mountain area residents know CHP Officer Kaci Lutz from taking her classes at the Oakhurst Area CHP Office.
Her Age Well, Drive Smart classes always filled up early, and teens got a good start behind the wheel at her Start Smart classes.
In a few weeks, Officer Lutz will be passing the baton to a new Public Information Officer as she heads back out on the road as a Patrol Officer in our area. CHP Officer Luis Lugo from the San Jose Office will be taking over her duties.
Officer Lutz took on her assignment as PIO in July of 2015. In addition to community outreach and media relations, she has been instrumental in making “National Night Out” a very well-attended annual event, working closely with JoAnn Evans, Community Service Officer at the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
She has also done safety briefings for community organizations and businesses such as Rotary and Sierra Tel – always working to create good relationships between citizens and law enforcement.
Lutz will retain some of her current activities, including school bus certification and car seat safety checks, and will always be involved in community outreach and education whenever she is called upon.
One of the things she will miss the most is being “mother hen” to the over two-dozen CHP Senior Volunteers; but she is confident they have been well trained and can carry on with their duties in good order.
We all wish Kaci well in her new assignment, and look forward to welcoming Officer Lugo to the Oakhurst Area Office.
As for her work as PIO, Lutz will miss many aspects of the job, but is looking forward to the next chapter in her career.
“I hope I’ve accomplished some good things, encouraged more community involvement, and opened some doors,” says Lutz. “It’s important to me that we create a greater understanding with the public about what we do, both in the office and on the road.”
