Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS: 

The Kiwanis Club of Oxnard is pleased to once again host the Oxnard Police Department Employee Recognition Awards Luncheon at 12:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2011. The public is invited but reservations for the event are required. Tickets are $25 per person and can be paid for at the door. Space is limited! To reserve your seat, please call Patti McKenzie at (805) 385-8296 or email her at pattimckenzie@oxnardpd.org.
During this ceremony, Oxnard’s 43rd Police Officer of the Year will be announced. The nominees are: 

• Officer Roger Ramirez
• Senior Officer Luis McArthur
• Officer Roger Garcia
• Officer Gordon Currie

The criteria for Oxnard Police Officer of the Year are:

1. Rank of Police Officer II or Senior Police Officer.
2. Performance of duties in an exemplary fashion.
3. Strong academic credentials or evidence of an earnest effort to obtain a higher degree.
4. Activity beyond the normal scope of duty; voluntarily engaging in the community affairs of Oxnard is a significant way.

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARDS
In addition to naming Oxnard’s Police Officer of the Year for 2010, Oxnard police Chief Jeri Williams will present the following awards to police department employees for exemplary service:

• 2010 Supervisor of the Year
• 2010 Civilian Employee of the Year
• 2010 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) Award
• 2010 Dispatcher of the Year
• 2010 Chief’s Award of Excellence
• Medal of Merit
• 10851 Award (in recognition of stolen vehicle recovery efforts in 2010, presented by the California Highway Patrol and the Automobile Club of Southern California)
• 2010 Volunteer of the Year/Clancy Nieland Award

PRESS NOTE: The Kiwanis will host one representative from each media outlet for lunch during the awards ceremony. Please contact Scott Hebert to RSVP.

Questions regarding the awards luncheon should be directed to Commander Scott Hebert at ScottHebert@OxnardPD.org or (805) 385-8290.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Rose Avenue @ Ives Avenue. The second checkpoint was held in the southbound lanes of Victoria Avenue @ Gonzales Road.

Officers screened 1004 motorists who passed through the checkpoint locations and conducted two DUI investigations with drivers who had been drinking alcohol. No DUI arrests were made as these drivers were found to have alcohol levels below the legal limit of .08. A 34 year-old female driver who entered the checkpoint was arrested after she was found to have a suspended driver’s license following two prior DUI convictions. She was also in violation of failing to install a court-ordered ignition interlock device in her vehicle. Her vehicle was towed from the checkpoint.

Citations were issued to 37 drivers for various drivers’ license violations at the checkpoint. Twenty-five drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver’s license and two drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Seventeen vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.

The Oxnard Police Department will conduct several more DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI operations are an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On 2/24/11 at approximately 1356 hours, Oxnard Police Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of South Oxnard Blvd in regards to a stabbing victim. When officers arrived they contacted the victim who had sustained a stab wound to his right hand and stomach.

During the course of the investigation, Raymond Godina was identified as the suspect. Godina was located a short distance from the crime scene and arrested. The weapon used in the attack was also located and recovered. Investigators are still attempting to determine a motive for the attack.

The victim was transported to VCMC for treatment and is listed in stable condition.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS: 

According to information we have, the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme has only one gate open today, on Victoria Ave. Traffic is backed up on Victoria Avenue between the entrance of the base up to Wooley Road. Oxnard officers are on scene and directing traffic.

Motorists are asked to take alternate routes if they are able.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS: 

On January 31, 2011, a nine year old female Oxnard resident received unsolicited text messages on her cellular telephone from a person unknown to her. The text messages continued for several hours and the Suspect persuaded the Victim to send him a partially nude photograph of herself via text message. The Victim’s mother discovered the situation when she checked her daughter’s cell phone that night and reported the incident to the Oxnard Police Department. The Oxnard Police Department investigated the crime and detectives were able to identify the Suspect, who was an 18-year old Oxnard resident, Nicholas Ortega. Upon contact with the Suspect, he was found to be in possession of child pornographic images of a fourteen year old female Oxnard resident. The Suspect was arrested for several counts of child enticement and luring and possession of child pornography. The Suspect was booked into Ventura County Sheriff’s Department jail with a bail of $50,000.

Parents are reminded to monitor their children’s computer and cellular telephone usage. Children are reminded not to communicate with strangers online or on cellular telephones. Parents and children may find additional resources at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or 1-800-843-5678. The investigation is continuing in relation to any other children who may have been persuaded to send the Suspect nude images of themselves with assistance from the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members including investigators from the Oxnard Police Department, FBI, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Contact Oxnard Police Department Detective Erica Escalante at (805) 385-7759.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday, February 26nd, 2011, from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. The checkpoint will be held throughout the City of Oxnard and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

So far this year, officers have made 130 DUI arrests in the City of Oxnard. In comparison to 2008, the Oxnard Police Department’s continued efforts in DUI enforcement have resulted in a 50% reduction in the number of alcohol related fatal collisions and an 8% reduction in injury collisions involving an impaired driver.

How to Report a Drunk Driver

1. Call 911 and tell them you wish to report a suspected drunk driver. **You do not have to give your name.
2. Give a complete description of the vehicle, such as make, model, color and license plate number.
3. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road, cross streets and the direction they’re traveling.
4. Describe the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.
5. Do not try to stop the car or detain the driver. Leave that to a law enforcement officer.

Please buckle up, drive sober, and drive safely in 2011.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On March 30, 2011, the Oxnard Police Department is hosting the phase one training class of the “Crime Free Multi-Housing program”.

The Oxnard Police Department introduced this crime prevention program in November of 2005. This program has proven to be successful in lowering crime, making properties more profitable, and increasing the quality of life for many tenants.

This program has been very successful in the City of Oxnard. The reduction in crime in most apartment communities in the program is above 70 percent.

This class is open to all apartment community employees in the City of Oxnard. This class is recommended for all property owners, on site property managers, property management representatives, leasing agents and maintenance employees.

The hours of the class are from 8a.m.-5p.m. in the Fillmore room at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center at 800 South Hobson Way, in Oxnard.

If you have any questions or wish to sign up for the training please contact Detective Marty Ennis at (805) 385-8349 or e-mail him at martinennis@oxnardpd.org.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS:

On February 13, 2011, at approximately 1547 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the intersection of Saviers Road and Wolff Street after receiving a call of an injury traffic collision involving an SUV and a motorcycle. Once on scene, officers found that a motorcycle, ridden by a male driver, 20 years old of Oxnard, had collided with a Chevy, Tahoe, driven by Maria Bernardino, 43 years old of Oxnard.

Based on a preliminary investigation, the SUV made a left turn from northbound Saviers Road to westbound Wolff Street in front of the motorcycle which was traveling southbound on Saviers Road. The motorcyclist was unable to stop in time and broadsided the SUV.

The motorcyclist sustained serious head injuries along with several broken bones and a partially severed leg. He was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was immediately rushed to surgery and is listed in critical condition. The driver of the SUV and her passenger were transported to Saint John’s Regional Medical Center where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

It has not been determined whether or not alcohol or speed was a factor in this collision. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

If anyone has information about this collision please contact Senior Officer Maria Pena at 385-7750.

An investigation is ongoing.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

DETAILS:

This morning at approximately 6:00 am more than twenty arrest warrants were served simultaneously at multiple locations in the cities of Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies took part in the execution of these warrants. This operation was one of the largest ever to be conducted in the city of Oxnard.

A press conference is scheduled at 11:00 am today at 300 West Third Street in Oxnard. Officals from the agencies involved, including the FBI, will be present at the press conference to outline and explain this morning’s operation.

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

DETAILS: