LANCASTER – Captain Gretchen Jacobs, a 24-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, was promoted and assigned to the Antelope Valley CHP office as Commander on July 1, 2013.
Jacobs is pleased to be working in the Antelope Valley and enthusiastically embraces her role of enhancing public safety and expanding public education about CHP programs.
“I live locally, so I understand the needs of the community,” Jacobs said. “I look forward to taking the mantle that was left by the previous captain, Captain Urrea, and building upon it.”
This starts with public education, Jacobs said.
“I’m going to expand the educational programs that we have, try to reach more people in the Antelope Valley, and bring everybody together so that they understand our role,” Jacobs said. “We would rather write less tickets, take less people to jail, take less accidents [reports].”
Jacobs also looks forward to forming meaningful and collaborative partnerships within the communities the CHP serves, and reaffirms the CHP’s mission of “Safety, Service and Security.”
Jacobs entered the CHP Academy in 1989. Upon completion of the six-month training program, she was assigned to Los Angeles. Throughout her career she has remained in Los Angeles County, serving the citizens of the state as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and now captain in the following Areas: Central Los Angeles Area, Altadena Area, Southern Division, South Los Angeles Area, Newhall Area, Castaic Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, and the Antelope Valley Area.
Prior to her career with the CHP, Jacobs served her country in the United States Air Force where she was assigned overseas in England, and stateside in South Carolina, as a nuclear and conventional weapons specialist for fighter aircraft.
CHP’s Antelope Valley Area includes the communities of Acton, Ana Verde Hills, Antelope Acres, Fairmont, Green Valley, Juniper Hills, Lake Los Angeles, Lake Elizabeth and Lake Hughes, Lancaster, Leona Valley, Littlerock, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Roosevelt, Sun Village.
Therese Herzog says
Congratulations, Grethen! Vince B. sent me a copy of this article. Way to go!
Best to you always. T
Tom says
Still remember those fun summers at JG Park and the college pool!!! And look at us now!!! Way to go!!
evervigilant says
Congrats to the first woman Commander of the AV CHP!
qhr says
Congrats and thanks for your service. Please help clean up the riffraff that have invested our once desirable AV.
Rooney says
Congratulations Commander~ You’ve got quite a history. Awesome! Hope you’re happy in your new job. It’s great to see a women at the top. Way to go lady!