News Releases

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 7, 2025

SUBJECT: National Click It or Ticket Campaign

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805)385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7am-5pm) │[email protected]

“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Reminds Californians to Always Buckle Up

Seat Belt Safety Campaign Runs Through Memorial Day

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department reminds travelers to always buckle up and secure children in the right car seats when visiting friends and family.

This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign runs from May 12 to June 1. During this time, the Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol actively looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. This includes vehicles where children are not secured in child safety seats or the right safety seats for their age.

Nationally, 11,302 people killed in crashes in 2022 were not wearing their seat belts. In California, 842 people killed in crashes in 2022 were not wearing seat belts, a decrease of 8.4 percent from 2021.

California law requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Once a child reaches these milestones, all children under the age of 8 years are still required to be secured in a car seat or booster seat. Children under the age of 8 may not ride in the front seat unless the vehicle is not equipped with a rear, forward-facing seat. Children 8 and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be wearing a properly fitted safety belt.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep children in the proper rear or forward-facing seat as long as possible and use the “Five-Step Test” to determine if their child is big enough to safely use a seat belt without a booster seat.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

EVENT:	Oxnard Police Department’s 26th Annual Memorial Ceremony
DATE/TIME:	Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	251 South C Street, Oxnard, California
PREPARED BY:	Paul Carganilla, Community Affairs Manager
CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:	Sergeant Carey Everhart (805) 385-8300 [email protected]

DETAILS:

On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, the Oxnard Police Department will be hosting its 26th Annual Memorial Ceremony. The ceremony will occur in front of the Oxnard Police Department.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Decades later, the event became known as National Police Week. This year, National Police Week is from Sunday, May 11, 2025, to Saturday, May 17, 2025. During National Police Week, thousands of law enforcement officers and survivors travel to Washington D.C. and other parts of the United States to honor those officers that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our Memorial Ceremony will honor Oxnard’s seven fallen police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each officer made the ultimate sacrifice while proudly wearing the badge of the Oxnard Police Department and bravely working to keep the City of Oxnard safe.

Our fallen Oxnard Police Officers are:

Deputy Constable Andrew McNaughton

End of Watch – March 23, 1906

Constable William E. Kelley

End of Watch – August 20, 1921

Officer Albert Gasperetti

End of Watch – April 15, 1956

Officer Frederick J. Clark

End of Watch – October 12, 1971

Senior Officer John Adair

End of Watch – October 7, 1980

Officer James E. O’Brien

End of Watch – December 2, 1993

Officer James R. Jensen, Jr.

End of Watch – March 13, 1996

The ceremony is open to the public and community members are encouraged to attend to honor our fallen police officers and pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who continue to serve.

Several streets surrounding the Oxnard Police Department will be closed beginning at 7:00 am until approximately 12:00 pm. Vehicle traffic will be diverted from the area and intersections will be controlled by police personnel. Motorists traveling through the area should expect minor delays and are asked to avoid the area if they are not attending the ceremony. The following intersections will be closed:

Northbound C Street from Fourth Street
Westbound Third Street from B Street
Eastbound Third Street from D Street
Southbound C Street from Second Street

DATE / TIME PREPARED: May 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Paul Carganilla

Community Affairs Manager

Oxnard Police Department

[email protected]

DESK: (805)385-7631 | CELL: (805)342-8292

Regular Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8AM-6PM, Alternating Fridays 8AM-5PM

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 2, 2025

SUBJECT: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Responsibly

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805)385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7am-5pm) │[email protected]

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Responsibly

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department encourages the public to celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly by planning ahead and designating a sober driver.

On May 4, the Oxnard Police Department will have additional officers on patrol from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The Oxnard Police Department wants to remind the community that alcohol is not the only substance that can cause impairment. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, cannabis products and other drugs may also cause impairment. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive. If you see someone who appears to be driving while impaired, call 9-1-1.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 2, 2025

SUBJECT: National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805)385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7am-5pm) │[email protected]

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department is reminding drivers to always look twice for motorcycles. With the arrival of warmer weather, more motorcycles are taking to the roads, making it essential for everyone to stay alert to help reduce crashes and save lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2022, representing 15 percent of total highway fatalities for that year. In California, 634 motorcyclists were killed in 2022, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2021.

Throughout the month, the Oxnard Police Department will conduct enhanced enforcement focusing on dangerous driving behaviors that affect all roadway users, including motorcyclists. On May 26, between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., additional officers will be out enforcing vehicle code violations that often result in crashes, including speeding, distracted driving, and right-of-way violations.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

· Always check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

· Do not follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

· If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Be sure that the rider is turning before moving ahead.

Motorcyclists

· Always wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection.

· Wear leather or other sturdy clothing such as a jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Add reflective strips or decals to your clothing and motorcycle to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

· Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot.

· Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

Lastly, both drivers and riders should never drive/ride distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: May 1, 2025

SUBJECT: National Bicycle Safety Month

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805)385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7am-5pm) │[email protected]

May is National Bicycle Safety Month

Oxnard, Calif. – The Oxnard Police Department is encouraging everyone to be alert to keep bicyclists safe. With the arrival of warmer weather, more people are biking for commuting, exercise or recreation, making it essential for all people to look out for one another and save lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,105 people killed while riding a bike in 2022, and an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured.

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Oxnard Police Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk, such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield the right-of-way and stop sign/red light running.

The Oxnard Police Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

· Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.

· Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

· Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist and give them space when passing. California law requires drivers to change a lane, when possible, to pass bicyclists and always pass with at least 3 feet of space.

· Never drive distracted or impaired.

Bike Riders

· Use lights at night.

· Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a crash.

· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

· Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 29, 2025

SUBJECT: Distracted Driving Enforcement

CONTACT: Mike Gens, Sergeant

(805) 385-7847 (Tue-Fri 7AM-5PM) | [email protected]

On April 30th, 2025, the Oxnard Police Department will conduct an enforcement operation focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 30th, 2025 (5:00 p.m.)

SUBJECT: Documented Gang Member / Prohibited Person Found in Possession of a P80 Handgun

SUSPECTS: Juan Palomarez, 25-year-old Oxnard resident

LOCATION: DuPont St. at Napoleon Ave., Oxnard

CONTACT: Bakari Myers, Sergeant

(805) 797-6202 | [email protected]

On April 30^th 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Special Enforcement Unit (Gang Unit) were patrolling the Lemonwood neighborhood when they observed Juan Palomarez riding a bicycle near DuPont St. and Channel Islands Blvd. The officers observed Palomarez commit a vehicle code infraction while riding his bicycle. The officers have also had prior contacts with Palomarez and know Palomarez is a documented Oxnard criminal street gang member that is on probation with search terms for prior firearms convictions.

The officers attempted to detain Palomarez for the observed vehicle code infractions, and to check to see if Palomarez was abiding by the terms of his probation. Palomarez attempted to flee from the officers but was apprehended. Officers searched Palomarez incident to his arrest and located two loaded firearms. One of the firearms was determined to be a loaded 9-millimeter, Glock-style, Polymer 80, un-serialized, semi-automatic handgun. Polymer 80 semi-automatic handguns are sold commercially as incomplete, without serial numbers, and must be further manufactured to make them into functioning firearms. The second firearm was a 9-millimeter, semi-automatic handgun that had the serial numbers removed.

Palomarez was charged with felony firearms violations. Palomarez is also a “prohibited person” due to his prior felony convictions. Palomarez was also found to have a felony warrant for a Post Release Offender Supervision (PROS) violation. The Post Release Offender Program, created by Assembly Bill 109 – the 2011 Public Safety Realignment – mandates that individuals sentenced to non-violent, non-serious (irrespective of priors) or non-sex offenses will serve their sentences in county jails instead of state prison. The public should be aware that release under AB 109 is based on the offender’s most recent committing offense. Prior convictions are not considered.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit is committed to reducing gang crimes and gun violence in the City of Oxnard through the strict enforcement of laws specifically targeting known, active gang members residing in the city. Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

*UPDATE*

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: April 28, 2025

SUBJECT: Serious Injury Traffic Collision involving a Pedestrian

LOCATION: Gonzales Road at Oxnard Boulevard

VEHICLE: 2007 Infinity M35

VEHICLE: Harley Means, 22-year-old Oxnard Resident

PEDESTRIAN: 60-year-old Male Resident of Oxnard, Name Withheld

CONTACT: Alexis Arellano, Traffic Investigator

(805) 385-7849 (Mon-Thu 7AM-5PM) | [email protected]

Update (Refer to the original collision information below)

On April 26, 2024 at approximately 8:04 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle and pedestrian near the intersection of Gonzales Road and Oxnard Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers located a male pedestrian lying in the eastbound traffic lanes of Gonzales Road, just east of Oxnard Boulevard. The pedestrian was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center.

On April 27, 2025 the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Oxnard Police Department that the pedestrian had succumbed to his injuries. The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the pedestrian as Avelino Orozco, a resident of Los Angeles.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact Traffic Investigator Alexis Arellano at (805)385-7849, or by email at [email protected].

____________________________________________________________________________

On April 26, 2025, at approximately 8:04 p.m., officers from the Oxnard Police Department and EMS personnel responded to an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle and pedestrian near the intersection of Gonzales Road and Oxnard Boulevard.

Upon arrival, officers located a male pedestrian lying in the eastbound traffic lanes of Gonzales Road, just east of Oxnard Boulevard. The pedestrian, whose name is being withheld, was suffering from significant injuries. He was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition. A 2007 Infinity M35 was parked along the right shoulder of Gonzales Road. The driver, Harley Means, remained on scene and cooperated with traffic investigators.

Initial investigation revealed Harley Means was driving his Infinity eastbound Gonzales Road. He proceeded through the intersection of Oxnard Boulevard on a green light. Means struck the pedestrian on Gonzales Road, east of the railroad tracks. The pedestrian, a flower vendor, was crossing the eastbound traffic lanes outside of a crosswalk. It appeared he was trying to reach buckets of flowers stored on the center median of Gonzales Road. Means immediately stopped and called police.

Traffic Investigators responded to the collision scene and took over the investigation. It does not appear speed or impairment by alcohol or drugs were factors in this collision, however, the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who has information regarding this collision is urged to contact Officer Alexis Arellano at (805) 385-7749 or via email at [email protected]. Also, anyone with information regarding this case can contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600.

If the inquiry is outside of the Investigator’s standard business hours, we encourage the use of the Investigator’s email. We have found that an email message with a callback request is a more effective way to reach the Investigator. Our watch commanders will continue to speak to those incidents that center around field operations, and still can be reached at (805) 385-7746 or (805) 385-7778.

Officers are on scene of a serious injury traffic collision in the area of Gonzales Road and Oxnard Boulevard. All lanes of Gonzales Road east of Oxnard Boulevard are closed. Residents are asked to use alternate routes.

***UPDATE***

All lanes of Gonzales Rd have been opened.

On Sat, Apr 26, 2025 at 8:28 PM Collet, Cody <[email protected]> wrote:

Officers are on scene of a serious injury traffic collision in the area of Gonzales Road and Oxnard Boulevard. All lanes of Gonzales Road east of Oxnard Boulevard are closed. Residents are asked to use alternate routes.