Police Records Technician Michael Lorenzana was recognized by the Oxnard City Council as the City’s Employee of the Quarter at their September 23, 2008 meeting. The award is for the third quarter of 2008. Consideration for this award requires a nomination and then a careful review is conducted by the City’s Employee Recognition Committee.

Michael is currently assigned to the Records Bureau as a Records Technician II. He is a trainer and works primarily with a State database system that is accessed by patrol officers and investigators. Michael also helps out in the IT department and is responsible for the connectivity of the mobile data computers in the patrol cars.

Michael was nominated by his current supervisor, Margaret Tobin. In her nomination, she recognized Michael because he truly represents what the City of Oxnard stands for, the City that cares. The work he does for others to help them do their job, is what is most important to him. Michael is always willing to stop what he is doing to help others. Many employees within the department seek out Michael as a resource because of his willingness to help.

Michael has always been an employee who is compassionate and understanding of the customer needs and he works diligently to ensure that their needs have been met. He is approachable and polite in all of his interactions. Michael takes pride in the quality of service he provides, which reflects positively on the department.

Michael very modestly accepted the award and said that he takes pride in the work that he does. He said he is proud to work for this City and tries to be a positive representative of the department.

Earlier in the year, Michael received the Civilian of the Year award for 2008 at the Oxnard Police Department’s annual awards luncheon.

Congratulations, Michael!

Financial assets forfeited by convicted criminals are converted into funds that provide law enforcement with new tools that make investigators’ work more efficient and effective. Because of the availability of asset forfeiture funds, the Oxnard Police Department operates two new Video Forensics Labs for importing and enhancing video and still images from a variety of sources. Once the digital evidence is imported and enhanced by this powerful tool, it is used in investigations that create a safer environment for the citizens of Oxnard.

The Video Forensics Labs are built around two powerful Macintosh computers running multiple operating systems simultaneously, including Apple’s OS X as well as Windows 98, XP and Vista. This design allows officers to quickly import digital video from a wide range of personal and business surveillance cameras without the need for a room full of computers. Analog-to-digital media converters allow older VHS, Betamax, Hi-8 and other formats to be viewed and perfected on the Macs and printed on archival-quality paper or exported back to tape, CD, DVD or other storage media.

The systems are easily upgraded and expanded to include other operating systems, video software and additional methods of importing evidence and exporting material that helps to solve the case. The Oxnard Police Department has made progress working with businesses and residents for years, assisting them with their video evidence. With these new labs, the tools for keeping Oxnard safe continue to improve.

When comparing the first six months of this year’s reported crime in Oxnard to 2007 figures for the same time frame, the number of reportable crimes in Oxnard declined 2.2%.

The reported crime figures reflect Part One Crimes, which are offense types that law enforcement agencies report to the United States Department of Justice. These offenses include the violent crimes of homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes that fall into Part One offenses include burglary, automobile theft, larceny (theft), and arson.

During the first six months of the 2007 calendar year, there were 2,517 reported Part I crimes, compared to 2,462 this year. The chart below summarizes Oxnard’s the comparisons by category:

The largest reduction within violent crimes was in reported rapes, which are down by 70%. Another noteworthy reduction concerns a 19.6% reduction in robberies. Though mid-year homicide figures show a 20% reduction in homicides, recent events will have a significant impact on this, since six murders occurred after July 1st.

Overall crimes against property are showing a 1.4% rise for the fist half of this year, with 2,087 crimes reported; compared to 2,059 in 2007. However, this is due only to a 3.4% rise in larcenies – all other property crime categories are showing decreases.

DETAILS: 

“Busted,” MTV’s newest reality show which examines the impact of illegal activity on young adults, features officers in action from around the country including the Oxnard Police Department. A new episode airs tonight at 6:00 p.m. on cable network MTV, featuring Oxnard P.D. Officer Matt Crenshaw.

Production crews rode with Oxnard officers for several weeks over the spring and summer months; they plan on returning for more ride-alongs this month as additional episodes of Busted go into production.

Busted is not Oxnard PD’s first foray into reality TV. Many episodes of trueTV’s (formerly CourtTV) “Speeders,” continue to air regularly on the cable network.

The Oxnard Police Department has been chosen the co-winner of the 2008 James Q. Wilson Award for Excellence in Community Policing, awarded by the Regional Community Policing Institute – California.

This award is presented by the Regional Community Policing Institute – California (RCPI-CA), in association with the Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice. The purpose of this award is to recognize California law enforcement agencies that have successfully institutionalized the Community Policing philosophy. One agency each year is chosen as the recipient of the award and two others receive recognition as finalists. This year, the Oxnard Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department – Carson Station tied for first place out of 27 entries.

The selections were made by a panel of experts who have no affiliation with any of the nominated agencies and were coordinated by the Director of the RCPI-CA. The recipient of the award will be featured in the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) quarterly newsletter, Problem Solving Quarterly. Each nomination was judged on the following criteria:

• Problem Solving – The level of agency commitment to solving public safety and disorder issues.
• Partnership with the Community – The level of agency collaboration with the community while addressing public safety and disorder issues.
• Partnership with Public and Private Organizations/Agencies – The level of agency collaboration with other public and private organizations/ agencies while addressing public safety and disorder issues.
• Institutionalization – The extent that the Community Policing philosophy has been integrated throughout the agency (e.g. percentage of personnel involved, training, relationship to promotional processes, etc.).
• Results – What have been the positive outcomes that can be linked to the chosen Community Policing Strategy and how were they determined?

This award comes as the result of many years of hard work by the men and women of the Oxnard Police Department who have successfully woven Community Policing into the fabric of the Department. It serves as an acknowledgment of the sworn and civilian employees who work every day at finding new and better ways to partner with all segments of the community in order to provide a safer City. The Department’s ‘Neighborhood Policing Strategy’, which was implemented three years ago, has been the latest modification to 30 years of Community Policing under four Police Chiefs. This latest approach seeks to customize police service to the neighborhood level.

The award will be presented during the California Crime Prevention Officer’s Association’s 34th annual training conference in Sacramento on September 17, 2008.

Oxnard Police Departments Neighborhood Policing Strategy and Community Policing Model

INCIDENT: Attempt Murder/ Gang related
DATE/TIME: 02/24/08
LOCATION: 1800 block of Gaucho Way, Oxnard
VICTIM/S: Male resident of Oxnard, 26 years of age.  Name is withheld due to concerns about possible retaliation
SUSPECT/S: Two Hispanic males one armed with a handgun, 18-21 years of age wearing a dark clothing.
WITNESS/ES: One witness, name is being withheld due to concerns about possible retaliation
SUSPECT VEHICLE: Unknown
LOSS: Gunshot wounds wound to the upper body
PREPARED BY: Fred Sedillos, Sergeant, Violent Crimes Unit

DETAILS:

On 2/24/08 at 0220 hours a 26 year male is dropped off at SJRMC by two unknown males.  The victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the torso. The witnesses that were contacted could little information or were not cooperative with investigating officers. Preliminary information indicates that the victim was possibly shot in front of the residence where a party had taken place earlier.  The victim’s wounds are life threatening and he is in critical condition.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT DET. Ken Peeples @ 486-6297. CALLERS CAN ALSO REMAIN ANONYMOUS BY CALLING 982-7043

DETAILS: On 8-16-2008 at approximately 9:30 am Officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call of a shooting victim in the 2300 Block of N. Oxnard Blvd. Upon their arrival the officers learned that the victim, identified as 55 year old Gurmohinder Singh had just made a cash withdraw from the US Bank located at Vineyard and Oxnard Blvd. As Singh walked out of the bank, he was confronted by a single suspect armed with a handgun. The suspect immediately shot the victim and took the victim’s money which was still in his hands. The suspect then fled the area on foot, North through the parking lot.

Mr. Singh was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect was described as possibly a Latin male, early 20s, wearing a distinctive shirt with one half of the shirt being red and the other blue. The suspect was wearing jeans and a blue and red baseball type cap.

Oxnard Police were assisted by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and Hueneme Police Department. SWAT Officers and a Sheriff’s helicopter combed the area for several hours in an attempt to locate the suspect.

No arrests have been made and the suspect has not been identified. If anyone recognizes the possible suspect in the photograph or has information relating to the homicide, detectives are asking that you contact Detective Michael Young at 385-7606 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 982-7070.

*

An investigation is continuing.

DETAILS: 
On August 4, 2008 at about 11:30 PM, detectives from the Oxnard Police Department served a search warrant, in the city of Ventura, at the home of Oxnard Police Officer Matthew Purnell. Purnell was placed under arrest for grand theft (487 Penal Code) and for filing a false police report (148.5 Penal Code). Purnell was also placed on administrative leave from the Department.