SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III, D – Los Angeles, led fellow legislators on Jan. 19 in honoring Los Angeles County Reserve Deputy Sheriff Shervin Lalezary for his acts of bravery in the recent arrest of a suspected arsonist in Los Angeles.

Beginning in late December, 2011, a series of 52 arson fires were set throughout the communities of Hollywood, West Hollywood, North Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. Deputy Lalezary has been credited for his quick response and decisive action in making the successful arrest of the suspected arsonist on Jan, 2.

Hall, also a Los Angeles County Reserve Deputy Sheriff, met and trained with Reserve Deputy Lalezary in 2007 and they served as fellow deputies, assisting communities throughout Los Angeles County for nearly five years.

“I could not be more proud of my friend and fellow Reserve Deputy Lalezary for his bravery and for bringing a horrifying period of time for Angelinos to an end,” Hall said. “Put simply, Reserve Deputy Lalezary is a hero, and residents throughout Los Angeles County should be grateful for his service to make our neighborhoods and communities a safer place to live and work.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca congratulated Lalezary, saying that, “Shervin Lalezary is a great example of our reserve program. He just wants to serve the community while he practices law. We are grateful for all our 844 reserves, and especially Shervin’s act of conscientious police work.”

Reserve deputy sheriffs are utilized to supplement the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's law enforcement manpower. Like full-time deputies, reserve deputies are professionally trained and duly sworn law enforcement personnel. In most cases, reserves are assigned to the same duties as full-time deputies. Since reserve deputies have the same powers of arrest as full-time deputies they are required by law to meet the same hiring, background, medical and psychological standards as full-time deputies.

For more information on the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department Reserve Forces Bureau, visit: www.lasdreserve.org.