 Jeri Williams Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department
R. Jason Benites Scott Whitney |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Oxnard Police Launch New Crime Prevention Seminar Series, Part of Operation Safer and Stronger |
| DATE/TIME: | February 20, 2014 6:00-7:30pm |
| LOCATION: | City of Oxnard, Activity Room, 300 W. Third Street, Oxnard |
| PREPARED BY: | Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager |
|
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Detective Crystal Walker (805) 385-7668 or [email protected] |
DETAILS: The Oxnard Police Department is proud to announce it is hosting a series of Crime Prevention Seminars available to the public. This effort is part of our on-going “Operation Safer and Stronger” initiative launched by the Chief at the start of the year, aimed to further engage and inform our larger community on trends and crime prevention efforts citywide.
Every other month, a new seminar will be presented on a variety of topics. “This is another great opportunity for our community to get involved and informed on challenges we may be experiencing as a city. I encourage the public to make time to meet neighbors and new friends, and help build a safer and stronger community,” said Jeri Williams, Oxnard Chief of Police.
The topics being covered will include: “What is Suspicious?” Reporting Crimes in our city, Identity theft, child safety, burglary prevention, cyber safety (including bullying), robbery, self-defense (our Oxnard Police RADD program), as well as scams and other crimes targeting the elderly, graffiti/gangs, and others. We are sure that people – young and old – will find information and details helpful and invaluable. “In fact, we encourage parents to bring their age-appropriate children to also get involved and learn from the information being presented,” said Williams.
“Too often, residents witness a crime or suspicious activity in the days or moments leading up to a crime – something does not look, sound, or feel right – and never contact us. For some, they may be a victim of a crime, maybe a robbery, and do not report it. We need our community to be informed and engaged to help prevent crime,” said Miguel Lopez, Oxnard Police Community Affairs Manager.
This new series of seminars is keeping with the Chief of Police’s New Year’s communication, “Working Toward a Safer, Stronger Community.” Along with the seminars, the Oxnard Police Department has put together some tips to assist everyone who lives, visits, and works in Oxnard to help prevent crime. These tips will be released on a monthly basis and will address current trends occurring citywide. The last such public safety announcement was distributed to our press and media contacts on January 29, 2014.
Who: Open to the public
What: Operation Safer and Stronger: Crime Prevention Seminar
Where: City of Oxnard, Activity Room, 300 W. Third Street (Convenient parking at the Downtown Parking structure across the street from this meeting room.)
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Topics: “What is Suspicious?” (Reporting Crime), Auto theft prevention and Scams.
Why: To further engage and inform our larger community on trends and crime prevention efforts, and help build a safer and stronger Oxnard.
The next two seminars are also scheduled:
April 17, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Location TBA – Topic: TBA
June 19, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Location TBA – Topic: TBA
“We have had tremendous success from residents who have called to report suspicious activity thus far this new year, and hope to engage and empower more members of our community to do the same,” says Lopez.
Thus far this year, calls from neighbors and residents about suspicious activity have helped to arrest ten persons who were located in a residence along with narcotics, narcotics paraphernalia, stolen property, and a loaded short barrel shotgun; the apprehension and later a separate arrest of another suspect of burglaries of garages; and, calls of reported street racing which resulted in a driver that was driving on the wrong side of SR-1 (Oxnard Blvd) and was arrested for DUI.
“Folks cannot sit back and just watch as things like this happen – the public needs to understand that crime and crime prevention does not start and end with just your Oxnard Police Department, it is a responsibility we all share. If you are a victim of a crime, report it. If you see a suspicious person or any suspicious activity, call us. Our non-emergency line is 385-7740, and translators are available,” Lopez added.
We are in the process of spreading these seminars to different areas around the city, in hopes of building community amongst and across neighborhoods in our city. These locations will be announced for the April and June seminars.
Space is limited! To make a reservation, contact Detective Crystal Walker at (805)385-7668 or [email protected]. Please leave your name, best contact, and she will return your messages to confirm Tuesday, February 18.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 02-12-14/1130 hours