BAKERSFEILD, Calif. -- After a nationwide search, the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, has announced the appointment of David Kuge as Chief Probation Officer for the County of Kern effective December 18, 2009.

Mr. Kuge started his Probation career in 1977 as a Group Counselor in Juvenile Hall. He has worked jointly with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office gang units, developed grant programs, community education and/or outreach, and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of many of the successful crime prevention efforts of the Probation Department, County of Kern.

He has served in various supervisory capacities in both juvenile and adult probation and will leave his current position of Deputy Chief Probation Officer.

“Kern County was fortunate to have a number of excellent candidates from all over the nation,” said Hon. Jon Stuebbe, Supervising Juvenile Court Judge. “We are very pleased to find the best candidate was already serving our citizens in the Department he will now lead.”

Kuge graduated from California State University, Fresno with a BA in Criminology. The Chief Probation Officer is appointed by the Superior Court pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code 270 upon recommendation by the local Juvenile Justice Commission.

The search for a new Chief Probation Officer was started in August when Mr. John Roberts, the current CPO, announced his pending retirement.