Part-time deputy earning $1 a year hailed as hero for catching arson suspect

**Jenna** · 01-03-12, 07:43 AM

A reserve sheriff's deputy who draws a paltry salary of $1 a year is being hailed as a hero for bringing to an end what authorities are calling one of the worst arson sprees in Los Angeles history.
Shervin Lalezary, an Iranian-born lawyer who moonlights as a deputy, was among hundreds of law enforcement officers who spent the last four days looking for the person accused of setting a rash of car and building fires across the city.
Early Monday, Lalezary pulled over a van in Hollywood driven by a man who resembled a person seen in a surveillance video near the scene of one fire.
With the help of backup officers, he then arrested the driver, Harry Burkhart.
"I'll give him a raise of another dollar a year," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca joked Monday evening.

Lalezary appeared at a post-arrest news conference with his mother and his brothers. One is a doctor; the other a law student who is also a reserve deputy. The younger Lalezary said he now has "big shoes to fill."
"I'll continue to strive to be as good of a brother and deputy as he is," said Shawn Lalezary.
For his part, Lalezary was quick to dole credit to his fellow law enforcement officers.
"Thank you for coming in to work every day full-time, putting your lives on the line every day full-time,"he said. "I look forward to coming back for my next shift with you guys."

More here: Part-time deputy who nabs arson suspect hailed as hero - CNN.com