DEPUTY SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION
Director Laura Cleaves
End of Watch May 1st, 2008

"Laura Cleaves, a supervising investigator for the Santa Barbara District Attorney's office, was killed in a collision on Highway 154 at approximately 11:30 on Thursday night, May 1. Ashley Johnigan, 22, of Santa Barbara, driving eastward, allegedly crossed the double-yellow center line and hit Cleaves' car head on. Johnigan was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol."

Laura was born in Long Beach, California on April 19, 1955.  She grew up in Southern California where she attended Heart High School.  She later attended Long Beach City College and Long Beach State University.  Laura stated her law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff when she joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1976 where she met her husband, Stephen M. Cleaves who was also Deputy Sheriff.  Laura and Stephen were married in 1978 and lived in Riverside, California until they moved to Northern California in 1980 where Laura became the first female Police Officer for the City of Arcata until 1981.  Laura and Stephen relocated to Santa Barbara County where Laura was hired by the Santa Barbara Police Department in 1981 to 1983.

In 1984, Laura joined the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office as a Welfare Fraud Investigator becoming one of the two Senior Welfare Fraud Investigators in 1985, after approximately ten years with welfare fraud; Laura was promoted to Criminal Investigator where she continued to excel as an investigator, and was later promoted to Senior Criminal Investigator in 1997.

Over the years, Laura has been recognized on a number of occasions for her dedication to service and outstanding performance and service, both within law enforcement and community.  As an accomplished horse woman, Laura has written articles on horse care, safety, and riding for the Santa Ynez Newspaper.  She also provided riding instruction for those with a love of horses as well as teaching horsemanship to the operators of the Therapeutic Riding Academy.  In 1988, Laura became a Reserve Deputy Sheriff/Instructor for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Unit.  In 1992, Laura became an instructor for the University of California, Davis in training outside agencies about the investigation of public assistance fraud, forged and altered documents and interviewing techniques.

Laura was a member of CWFIA, the chairperson for the training conference in 1988 and 1994, and worked effortlessly to better welfare fraud investigations in Santa Barbara County.  Even after Laura left Welfare Fraud, she continued to work for the betterment of our unit, and taught classes at our conferences.  Laura also has served as a Director on the Santa Barbara Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

Laura received many commendations from deputy district attorneys, judges, community leaders, and organizations along with being named Investigator of the Year in 1987 and 1991.  Laura also received the H. Thomas Guerry award for Law Enforcement Excellence in 1991.  Laura embodied the values of peace officer professionalism.  Through her friendship, leadership, and community service, Laura provided an ideal role model for courage, confidence and, character.

Laura is survived by her loving husband, Stephen, two daughters and their husbands; Krista and Shane Buxman of Oxnard, California, Kelly and Daniel York of Santa Ynez, California, father and step-mother Bob and Elaine Ewen of Carmel, California, mother Juanita Speirs of Bend, Oregon, three sisters and a brother.

Laura was laid to rest at the Oakhill Cemetery, Ballard, California.  A Memorial Service was held in honor of Laura at the Pacific Christian Center in Santa Maria, California.

The Laura J. Cleaves Memorial Fund has been set up at:
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (acct# 0101705895).