It is said that Sergeant Merlyn Kelly was the “quintessential patrol officer, who wrapped himself up in the black-and-white and went to work making sure the city was safe.” Known at the Santa Barbara Police Department simply as “Sarge” or “Kelly,” and by some as “The Bear” due to his imposing size — he was 6’3” and 260 pounds — being a public servant was his calling. He loved being out on the streets of Santa Barbara, assisting people. He started his career with the Santa Barbara Police Department when he was 21, and his watch lasted for 35-and-a-half years, under eight police chiefs.
Merlyn Kelly was born in Barstow, California, on October 17, 1941. When he was 10 years old, his father’s employer, Western Union, transferred the family to Santa Barbara, where Merlyn lived for the next 63 years. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1959 and later received a degree from Santa Barbara City College in administration of justice.
The 35-and-a-half years of police work spanned many job assignments. Among Kelly’s job titles were Supervisor of Patrol, Supervisor of Motors, Supervisor of K-9, Parking Enforcement, and Special Events; he was also a Detective Sergeant and a member of the SWAT Team. Working with the United States Secret Service when president Ronald Reagan came to Santa Barbara was especially gratifying. On his off-hours, Sgt. Kelly participated in the California Police Olympics for several years in the shotgun venue, and he was a player on the S.B. Police Department (SBPD) Softball Team. He loved fishing on Lake Cachuma in his bass boat, and he also flew gliders. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, taking many camping trips with his police buddies. His favorite job, though, was pounding a beat.
