In appreciation of his 13-plus years of service to the Goleta Motor Unit, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy John DeLeon was presented with a City Tile by the Goleta City Council at its Oct. 20 meeting.

DeLeon, who has been promoted to a Coroner’s Bureau detective position, left his city of Goleta Police Department assignment on Sept. 6.

“We are extremely pleased with Deputy John DeLeon’s service to the city in the Motor Unit. His work in the community, with our schools, kids and residents, has been excellent for the over 13 years he has been assigned to this unit,” said Vyto Adomaitis, Goleta’s director of Neighborhood Services and Public Safety director.

“He has helped carry out the high priority of the City Council’s emphasis on traffic safety for our community, and he is a great example of the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office serving the city of Goleta. We will miss John, but wish him the very best in his new assignment.”

Following the City Tile presentation, the council welcomed DeLeon’s replacement on the Goleta Motor Unit, Deputy Matt Dawson, a long-time law enforcement professional and Goleta resident.

Dawson was born and raised in Santa Barbara County and has lived in Goleta for 30 years. Prior to being hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 2015, he worked as a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer for 15 years. Dawson’s most recent assignment was working as a bailiff for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

“Deputy Dawson brings significant experience and expertise in the area of traffic safety and is invested in our community,” said Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene. “We are fortunate to have him on our team of safety professionals.”

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is contracted to provide law enforcement services to the city of Goleta.