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Home My WebLink About1994 Moorpark Police Annual ReportLarry Carpenter Sheriff/Chief of Police Moorpark Police Department 1994 ANNUALunPuRT I rerorce M Ifie r#NNffflj#7!„ V Dear Reader, As I reflect on the past year, I find myself feeling a sense of both accomplishment and gratitude. Again, Moorpark received recognition for providing a safe environment for us to raise our families and operate our businesses. Our community's low crime rate has received national recognition. Your city council and police department play a significant role in this accomplishment, as do the law abiding citizens who choose to actively role model society's values. Crime rates are an important tool to measure our success. Perhaps more importantly though, is the perception of the crime problem by our citizens. Most Moorpark residents feel safe and secure living in their neighborhoods. We will continue enforcing a zero -tolerance policy towards gangs and drugs and will not ignore "minor" crimes that are reported. Our goals from a criminal standpoint this past year were to continue our aggressive street level enforce- ment towards both gangs and narcotics violators. I firmly believe this enforcement posture plays a significant role in reducing both violent and property crimes. From the community interaction stand- point, it was exciting to see the grand opening of the Moorpark Police Department Resource Center. In this time of limited resources, Moorpark deputies depend on citizen volunteers to provide some of the traditional police services. A Moorpark deputy said it best, "Why not call it the Resource Center? We want to be a resource to the community." These dedicated citizens donate their time and energy on a daily basis to serve the community they live in. We have critical challenges facing us; rising emergency response times along with a significant increase in emergency demands for service, increased narcotic arrest rates, increased gang contacts and docu- mented violations of probation all place a drain on limited resources. We will continue to work closely with city government and the community to explore all avenues available to ensure that we maintain our high level of service. In the "Looking Back" section of this report, you will find significant impacts and changes that have occurred this past year. One that deserves mention is Lieutenant Geoff Dean's reassignment. Geoff moved on to a new administrative assignment in the Detention Services Division last May. We thank Geoff for his many accomplishments and dedication to Moorpark. Having been assigned to the Moorpark Police Department for close to five years has given me some perspective of what we, as your police department, have accomplished. I am reminded daily of how fortunate we are as a community to have well trained and dedicated deputies patrolling our streets. Many of our deputies are involved, on their own time, in various community groups or special events. Ranging from teaching at the high school to participating in the Country Days events or the Boys and Girls Club, these individuals are an integral part of this community. These men and women truly make a difference and are "a resource to the community." On behalf of Sheriff Larry Carpenter, myself, and the deputies and volunteers who provide service to the Moorpark community, we thank you for your support and the opportunity to serve you. Together as a community, mji %?O,� Marty Rouse, Lieutenant March 15, 1995 14 resource fo Ike communify!" Overview I in I r M, The Ventura County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services to the City of Moorpark on a contract basis. Sheriff Larry Carpenter is the Chief of Police, with operational control of the contract under the leadership of Lt. Marty Rouse. Administrative officers and patrol personnel work out of the East County Police Services Division, led by Chief Deputy Robert Brooks. This Division provides law enforcement services to the residents of Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and the unincorporated areas of eastern Ventura County. Commander Bruce McDowell is the administrative officer overseeing deputies in Moorpark and the unincorporated areas. East County Police Services Mission Statement We are committed to safeguard the lives and property of residents of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and unincorpo- rated eastern Ventura County and respond to public concerns in a manner which promotes neighborhoods free from the fear of crime. Strategy Our strategy for accomplishing this mission is to preserve the peace, prevent crime, facilitate problem solving partnerships, enforce laws, apprehend offenders, provide secure and humane detention for persons lawfully entrusted to our care and display empathy and respect for the dignity of all individuals. Personnel 1994 was a year of change for the Moorpark Police Department's personnel. At the start of the year, Marty Rouse was the Investigations Unit supervisor. In the spring, he was promoted to Lieutenant and then assigned to Moorpark as the Police Services Manager. In addition, many of our deputies promoted to Senior Deputy and were transferred out. Some even returned to Moorpark in their new rank. The new deputies taking an assign- ment to work here bring a real sense of excitement as they join the Moorpark Team! Our thanks to everyone who worked in Moorpark in 1994. Police Services Manager: Lt. Marty Rouse Police Services Supervisor: Sgt. Keith Parks Investigations Unit Supervisor: Sgt. Wm. T. Hughes Community Services Officer: Sr. Dep. Ed Tumbleson Traffic Officer: Dep. Bud McCracken Motorcycle Officer: Dep. George Fitzgerald Detectives: Sr. Dep. Dave Lea Dep. Larry Bull Patrol Senior Deputies: Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson Patrol Deputies: Dep. Mike Baker Dep. John Brockus Dep. Allen Devers Dep. Jerardo Gomez Dep. Eric Hatlee Traffic Detail Cadets: Debbie Runkle Management Assistant: Diane McCrossen City of Moorpark Mayor: Paul Lawrason Councilmembers: Patrick Hunter Bernardo Perez City Manager: Steve Kueny Deputy City Manager: Richard Hare Sr. Dep. Don Aguilar Dep. Jody Keller -Smith Dep. Jose Lopez Dep. Albert Miramontes Dep. Jose Rivera Dep. Brian Roberts Juan Ponce Scott Montgomery John Wozniak K Introducing the Moorpark Police Department Team ... Left to right: (Adjacent to sign) Mgmt. Assistant Diane McCrossen and Lt. Marty Rouse. (First row) Sgt. Wm. T. Hughes, Dep. Bud McCracken, Dep. Jody Keller -Smith, Cadet Debbie Runkle and Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson. (Second row) Dep. Allen Devers, Dep. Brian Roberts, Dep. Eric Hatlee and Sgt. Keith Parks. (Back rows) Dep. Jose Rivera, Sr. Dep. Ed Tumbleson, Dep. John Brockus, Dep. Jerardo Gomez, Dep. Albert Miramontes, Dep. Jose Lopez, Sr. Dep. Dave Lea and Sr. Dep. Don Aguilar. (On motorcycle) Dep. George Fitzgerald. Management Team Lt. Marty Rouse (center) Sgt. Keith Parks (left) Sgt. Wm. T. Hughes (right) A refnurce fa fhe commuaify!" LI min T L S r) M V I E S Your Patrol Deputies Patrol deputies are the primary service providers and Police Department resource involved with the community on a daily basis. They are on duty 24 hours per day, seven days a week. They will respond to virtually any type of request, by dealing with the situation or by referring the citizen to the most appropriate public or private assistance. Deputies take reports, initiate criminal investigations, make arrests, enforce traffic laws, investigate traffic accidents and prevent crime through routine and directed patrol. The patrol officers are the basic component of "Problem Oriented Policing." As such, deputies are given the authority to work with the community to identify specific problems which cause crime or that may foster the perception that crime is increasing. We embrace this philosophy and involve all of our staff in it. For example, patrol deputies know city and school district staff and are encouraged to work with them on mutual concerns. This might involve a deputy calling Public Works to have graffiti quickly removed. Or it could involve a traffic officer working with a school principal to improve the traffic flow in and out of the school parking lot during the peak driving times. In other words, deputies are not here just to take reports, make arrests and write tickets. They are an integral part of the community and they strive to use their imagination to make Moorpark one of the nation's safest communities. Patrol Operations There are 12 deputies assigned to Moorpark as patrol officers. They staff two 24-hour a day patrol cars and two 56-hour per week overlap cars. The city is divided into two "beats," which allows for the deputies to be assigned to a specific area. Deputies can then gain a better understanding of their patrol responsibility area, becoming personally acquainted with residents and business people in their beat. They are more aware of local crime trends and are able to take responsibility for improving the "safety climate" within their beats. This type of policing is generally referred to as "Community Oriented Policing." The patrol deputy, in order to be a true resource for the community, must understand the community and the needs of those who live or work there. Patrol Beat Configuration Geographically, each of the two patrol beats is responsible for half of the city. The western and southern beat (2A) includes the Peach Hill, Mountain Meadows and Buttercreek neighborhoods. It also extends to the downtown area west of Moorpark Avenue and south of Los Angeles Avenue. The central and eastern beat (213) covers the remainder of the city, including most of downtown, Campus Park and the Moorpark college neigh- borhoods. The 2C patrol car overlaps the two main beats, serving as a backup or replacement car, when the beat deputy is busy on another call. The 2C car is on duty 18 hours each day, during the busiest times of the day. Beats are further broken down into "reporting districts." Reporting districts were originally formed out of Federal census zones. These are physical locations that may include an entire community, such as the Peach Hill residential neighborhoods or a light industrial area, like that off of Commerce and Poindexter Avenues. Reporting districts are defined by the type of neighborhood or the separation of that neighborhood from areas with differing land uses. For example, the residential blocks in the downtown area between Moorpark Avenue, Spring Road, Los Angeles Avenue and the train tracks are completely surrounded by commercial zones. For that reason, the neighborhood is identified as a single reporting district. There are 16 reporting districts within the city. This number will grow as development occurs and land use changes. By tracking crime within reporting districts, we are able to look for trends within the reported crimes. Since many criminals repeat a specific style of criminal act over and over in the same neighborhoods, we can use information from specific reporting districts to identify possible acts committed by a known suspect. We are also able to focus our patrol deployment to these districts with a clearer picture of what is happening in them. This also allows us to identify those areas in town that have the highest incidence of crime. Our community services officer is also able to direct his neighborhood or business watch programs to the people who need it when they need it. 4 (Above) Dep. Don Aguilar is congratulated by Sheriff Larry Carpenter after being presented the Officer of the Year award from the Rotary Club of Moorpark. (Below left) Community volunteers in front of the Resource Center. (Below right) Dep. George Fitzgerald. A r¢anarc¢ 1n the community!" Your Community Services COfficer Senior Deputy Ed Tumbleson is the Community Services Officer for the O Moorpark Police Department. He serves as a resource to the community in a number of ways. These include present- ing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) curriculum to all of the fifth grade students in the Moorpark Unified School District; coordination of the city wide Neighborhood Watch Program; and TT review of all new development plans to Uidentify ways to reduce crime before projects are built in the city. NSr. Dep. Tumbleson spends 20 hours a week on community services programs Iand 20 hours a week as the DARE officer. TNeighborhood Watch "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" contin- ues to be our motto for Neighborhood Watch. In 1994, the community services officer worked with the City Manager's office to help create a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) made up of residents who were members of the local neighborhood watch groups and who were S interested in additional ways to be a resource to their neighbors. The DART n team members were trained to go to the �1 aid of the community in the event of a disaster. This can be vital especially in case of a widespread event, such as last R year's Northridge earthquake. If emer- gency services are delayed in reaching �T hard-hit neighborhoods, DART team rmembers may be able to organize their neighborhoods into self sufficient en- claves until help arrives. DART team members have also learned how to teach their neighbors to prepare for a disaster, such as stockpiling supplies and earth- C quake- proofing their houses. n In 1994 we welcomed six new neighbor- hoods to Neighborhood Watch, including portions of the large Le Club apartment complex. We currently have 19 neighbor- S hoods participating in Neighborhood Watch, with over 200 families. Communication and education are important ways to reduce the opportunities for crime to occur. The Community Services Officer communicates with residents through both a monthly newsletter and a new Crime Alert information phone line. "The Liaison" newsletter recaps reported crimes and their locations by specific community. Neighbor- hood Watch members are able to understand what is happening in their own neighbor- hoods. They are also able to talk to neigh- bors to make them aware that we must all be part of the team to reduce the incidence of crime. Crime prevention tips and other information about the police department are also included in the newsletters. The Crime Alert phone line is a means for residents to call and hear a recording that explains significant criminal events that have recently occurred in their neighborhood. It is hoped that people who may have witnessed a situation that they did not know was a crime, will find out about it from Crime Alert and then give that information to the police department. Drug Abuse Resistance Education As a certified DARE instructor, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson is part of a collaborative effort among educators, students, parents and the community to reduce the incidence of substance abuse and other destructive behavior by our children. He spends two semesters each school year teaching DARE to every fifth grade student in Moorpark. The emphasis in the classroom is to help students recognize the many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, or other drugs or to engage in violent behavior. Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and friends 2 A new lesson was included this year that teaches our children about the criminal activities that gangs are involved in and explores the destructive effect that gangs have on young lives and our community. To offset the often glamorous image of the gang life-style portrayed in the media, DARE teaches our children to recognize the personal and societal consequences that are the reality with gangs. At the conclusion of their semester -length DARE pro- gram, each of the over 600 fifth graders in our schools write a personal essay to say why being drug free is important to them and to make their commitment to lead a drug and violence free life. Along with other school based prevention and early intervention programs, DARE is a comprehensive substance abuse program that meets the goals of the federal Drug -Free Schools and Communi- ties Act. Sr. Dep. Tumbleson, in partnership with Sandy Brown of the Moorpark Business Service Center, designed collect- ible milk caps (POGS) that helped to spread the message of DARE to our children. These POGS, printed with the help of donations from the public, are very popular with the kids in our community. POGS were handed out to children by patrol deputies as a positive reinforcement to safe behaviors. When an officer has a contact with a child who is wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle, he or she would give the child a milk cap to reward them for being safe. The program became instantly popular and kids were always approaching the deputies to ask for POGS. This goes a long way in helping the kids to know the deputies as friends. Funding The Community Services Officer position is funded by the City of Moorpark and the Moorpark Unified School District's D.A.T.E. program. The Parent, Teacher, Student Associations (PTSA) at both Flory and Arroyo West Schools, where DARE is taught, provide additional funding. Community donations from local businesses and service organizations are used to purchase items for the children who participate in the program. Other Programs Throughout the year, the Community Services Officer provides a number of specialized programs for different groups. These range from taking Officer McGruff, the Crime Dog, to speak with preschool children to present- ing a program on business protection to local store owners and employees. Sr. Dep. Tumbleson is also a "special friend" who visits with the children at the Moorpark Boys and Girls Club throughout the year. He is also available to work with individual home owners to identify ways to protect their homes. Crime Prevention Through Design An important way to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur is to study plans for new residential, commercial and public development within the community to identify ways to "harden the target." Sr. Dep. Tumbleson might recommend landscaping that makes it difficult for thieves or vandals to approach a structure or he might list materials that will better withstand vandalism or misuse. The intent is to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur or to reduce the impact on a structure or its users caused by crime. He also looks at the projected traffic flow patterns of roadways with the understanding of a traffic officer who will have to ensure public safety by recom- mending changes that might improve traffic patterns or reduce speeds. In November 1994, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson completed the 40 hour Environmental Design class, sponsored by California's Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). This course is a supplement to the basic Crime Prevention training and it provides the student with an understanding of the design process and how to look at plans from a law enforcement and public safety perspec- tive. With the potential for growth and development throughout the city, it is necessary for the police depart- ment to partnership with city planners and private developers to create neighborhoods that enhance public and traffic safety. In this process, the Police Department again serves as a "resource to the community." "14 re:nurce Td The cammundy!" N ill E S T C 1� T N r Overview The Investigations Unit is responsible for handling the vast majority of criminal investigations in the city. These include all felony property crimes, such as burglaries, thefts and forgeries as well as domestic abuse cases. The team is also responsible for com- pleting investigations on misdemeanor crimes. Felony crimes against the person, such as homicides, sex offenses and robberies are handled the Major Crimes Details within the Sheriffs Department. Because of their understanding of local criminals, Moorpark detectives frequently assist in these investigations as well. All reports of crimes or suspicious activities in Moorpark are reviewed by the Investigations Unit supervisor, who then assigns them to a detective for follow-up. Every effort is made to ensure that a majority of these cases are investigated, depending upon the leads, the type of crime and the workload of the investigators. Some cases that have no apparent investigative leads are followed -up with a phone call to the victim from either a detective or a volunteer at the Resource Center. This is done to let the victims know that we take their reports seriously, even if we have little chance of solving the case, and to find out if they have become aware of information that might help to solve the case. To serve as a resource to the community, the Investi- gations Unit prides itself on its "Team Concept" approach to community oriented policing. Detectives work closely with probation officers, school officials and, especially, the patrol officers in Moorpark. Your Investigators Through information sharing and coordination of resources, problem areas can be identified in order to both solve crime and proactively prevent criminal events from happening. For patrol deputies, detec- tives have conducted training in narcotics symptomatology and investigation and have encour- aged aggressive enforcement of those who use or distribute drugs. Often, narcotic abusers commit property crimes to support their drug habits. Their arrest and subsequent monitoring by court and probation officials can have a significant impact on our property crime rates. One example of this coordinated approach, or "problem oriented policing," was seen in the investigation of several residents who were selling narcotics and receiving stolen property from one house in the city. By working closely with probation and patrol officers, detectives were able to solve a number of serious property crimes and conduct timely searches and recovery of stolen property. Patrol deputies were kept aware of what was occur- ring at the house and they were able to initiate additional investigations that resulted in more arrests and the recovery of over $45,000 in stolen property. We know that the successful approach to solving and preventing crime mandates that the criminal justice system join with the public to get the job done. The Investigations Unit is a vital part of that team and it will continue to take the lead to help Moorpark remain one of the country's safest communities. Our Investigations Unit is comprised of Sergeant William T. (Terry) Hughes, who serves as the Unit supervi- sor, Sr. Deputy Dave Lea and Deputy Larry Bull. Detective Lea, who has worked in Moorpark since incorpo- ration in 1983, is responsible for investigating the felony property crimes, forgeries and domestic abuse cases. Det. Bull covers the misdemeanors, missing persons reports, runaway juveniles and traffic accident hit and run investigations. The misdemeanor investigator position is a one-year rotational assignment that serves as a career enhancement for patrol deputies. At the conclusion of this assignment, the deputy returns to patrol with additional skills to better serve the community. The Moorpark detectives are committed to helping the patrol deputies not only with their day to day opera- tions, but by teaching them how to enhance their own skills in investigating crime. Our patrol deputies learn about the investigative tools and sources of information used by the detectives by spending several days each year working directly with a detective. In most law enforcement agencies, patrol deputies do not remain involved in a case after the arrest has been made and their reports have been completed. Sgt. Hughes and his investigators show the deputies how to prepare a case for presentation to the District Attorney's Office to seek a filing. The patrol officers then take a case, complete the investigation and prepare the "packet" and then file the case themselves. They get a first hand look at what the District Attorney requires for a successful prosecu- tion. The skills that they learn help them to do an even better job back on the streets. Analysis . 1994 was the first complete year that the Investigations Unit operated with an in-house supervisor. The position was approved by the City Council in August 1993. The objectives were to provide supervision of the detail and to ad- equately respond to more cases that required investigation. It was our intent that the detective supervisor identify more cases for follow-up and to reduce the number of pending cases that historically were not followed up. By doing so, more cases could be fully investigated, resulting in an arrest or other form of closure. Other closures would include a determination that no crime occurred or that the victim desired that we not follow up on the report. The workload indicators data shown below indicate that we are meeting these goals. Even though there was only a 7% rise in reported cases requiring• follow-up in 1994, the detective sergeant increased the cases to be investigated by 35% and reduced the total pending cases by 15%. In other words, we were able to place a greater emphasis on the investiga- tion of all cases, including the cases that do not have good suspect information. We believe that we can. prevent larger criminal events from taking place if we can deal with them before they grow in scope. The most important result of the formation of the Investigations Unit supervisor position is that we were able to successfully close 133 more cases in 1994, an increase of 40%. We believe that 1994 served as an important test of the Investigations Unit. The unit met the challenge and proved that they are a tremendous resource to the community! Investigation's Workload Indicators All crime reports and reports of suspicious activity are reviewed daily by Sgt. Hughes, who decides if the case will be actively investigated. He bases his decision on the facts pre- sented in the report or if the report matches reports of possibly related offenses. Reports that will be imme- diately investigated are assigned to a detective, or they may be handled by Sgt. Hughes if necessary. Reports that require immediate handling by an investigator are called "Follow-ups." Investigators must actively pursue leads in an effort to close these cases. These also include cases where a suspect has been arrested and the case must be pre- pared for presentation to the District Attorney's Office. Cases that have little information which would indicate a suspect are called "Penders." These are followed up if information is later obtained that might point out a possible suspect. Later follow-up with victims, for more information, is the key to closing these cases. "Closures" are those cases that have been solved, either by arrest or other means. 1992 1993 1994 Total Cases: 843 779 831 (7% increase in 1994) Follow-ups: 381 339 457 (35% increase in 1994) Penders: 462 440 374 (15% decrease in 1994) Closures: 298 330 463 (40% increase in 1994) Cases per year (1992, 1993, 1994) 600 500 400 300 200 100 raiowups Penders Clcsves The first bar in each category represents 1992 data, the second is for 1993, and the last is 1994's. "14 resource le fire community!" 0 M n F F C S l'1 E S Overview Traffic services is a vital part of municipal police services. Protecting motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and others who use the local streets, sidewalks and bike lanes is accomplished through a number of means. These may include the design, construction and renovation of roadways, the preparation, installa- tion and updating of traffic control devices, and the enhancement of traffic safety through enforcement and public awareness programs. The Police Depart- ment plays an important role in each of these areas. In the design stage for new private and public developments, plans are reviewed from the perspec- tive of a traffic officer. For example, the California Vehicle Code has certain legal requirements allowing the use of radar to enforce the posted speed limits. Improper roadway design can limit the use of this effective tool to control excessive speeds. It is a better use of scarce public funds to ensure that the roads are designed and built correctly from a traffic safety perspective. For existing roadways, traffic officers are able to recognize hazards or changing conditions that will become hazards and then make recommendations for change. This may be some- thing as simple as re -striping the roadway to the installation of a regulatory sign. Even though law enforcement officers are not typically trained in design, they look at roads and traffic patterns from a unique viewpoint that can provide valuable insight to assist the public, decrease the accident rate and reduce the potential for liability claims. Certainly the most visible aspect of law enforcement traffic services is the enforcement of traffic laws. Through both high visibility and violator enforce- ment, the accident rate can be reduced. Deputies enforce unsafe driving violations and hazardous mechanical problems. They also enforce the rules of the road on bicyclists and pedestrians. The actions of deputies may occur in response to complaints from citizens about specific types of violations or they may be the result of routine patrol or directed patrol. Public traffic safety programs are another key aspect of our traffic services agenda. These may be formal prepared presentations given to public groups, such as school classes or homeowner associations. When a deputy stops someone to warn them about a minor violation, the traffic safety presentation takes on an informal approach. All of the deputies may all be called upon to make traffic safety presentations. Overall, the goal of our traffic services program is to enhance the safety of all of the users of roadways within the city. This is another way that we serve as a "resource to the community." Commercial Enforcement ' < :` »< With two state highways traversing the city, the monitoring of commer- cial vehicles is a priority of city officials. State Route 118 is a ' major east -west route that is impacted by heavy commercial vehicle traffic avoiding the steep Conejo Grade and the CHP scales and inspection station on the parallel State Route 101. State Route 23 is a north -south route that passes through town as a two lane road. With the desire to ensure that commercial drivers obey traffic laws as they pass through the city on the surface (non -freeway) streets that are state highways, the city has funded a special team of deputies to stop commercial trucks for violations and to then inspect them for mechanical violations that are hazardous to the public. Sr. Dep. Ed Tumbleson and Deputies Jose Lopez and Albert N iramontes comprise the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement detail for the city. Dep. N iramontes completed the extensive two week CHP training program during the summer. Inspecting trucks is a collateral assignment that takes place in additionto their regular duties. These deputies are equipped with special inspection tools and a portable scales to check trucks for overweight violations. Trucks that exceed weight limits can cause costly damage to city streets. After a truck has been stopped, a detailed inspection can be conducted. This safety inspection looks at the condition and operating function of the brakes, lights, coupling devices, frame structure, wheels, tires and the load placement and weight. Deputies also check the operator's license to guarantee that he is permitted to operate that type of vehicle. They also study the driver's log book to make sure that he has taken enough breaks on the trip. In some cases it is necessary to inspect the driver for being under the influence. During one of our inspections this year we arrested a driver for being under the influence of narcotics and for being in possession of a controlled substance. If a truck is found to have a hazardous mechanical violation, the inspecting deputy can take the truck out of service until it is repaired. They may also prohibit drivers who have not had enough rest from continu- ing their trip until they have rested. Citations can be issued to the owners of the vehicles for mechanical violations and the drivers can be cited for moving violations. 10 , J Traffic Summary . 1994 was a year of change for the traffic flow, enforcement of traffic laws and parking regulations in the City of Moorpark. Changes in each of these areas are reflected in the year end totals of accidents and citations. The overall accident rate rose slightly and fewer citations were issued in 1994. The number of parking tickets, issued by deputies and civilian cadets, rose sharply. We wrote fewer citations in 1994 because many of our more heavily travelled streets were not authorized for radar enforcement. California law requires that streets which have been rebuilt or have not been surveyed within 5 years to be resurveyed. The survey identifies the maximum speed that 85% of the motorists drive at or below.. The State Legislature has decided that 85% of all drivers will drive at a speed which they consider to be safe, taking into account all of the factors such as roadway design, type and amount of traffic, obvious hazards and other conditions. In order to use radar on most streets (other than 25 MPH residential streets or to enforce the maximum speed limit of 55 MPH) the posted speed limit must be within 5 MPH of the street's 85th percentile speed. This law prevents cities from creating speed traps in order to raise revenue. A survey was conducted during the summer and the new posted speed limits were recommended to the City Council in order to bring the streets into compliance. After the speed limits were changed, radar enforcement could begin. Prior to the adoption of the speed survey, it was often difficult to enforce the speed limits by pacing vehicles. As a result, the total number of citations dropped in 1994. The accident rate in Moorpark increased slightly in 1994. A number of streets were changed, which resulted in increased usage and higher average speeds. Together, they resulted in more accidents. As speed enforcement increases in 1995 and as motorists become more familiar with the new street designs, the accident rate should lower. Another factor that affected our traffic services in 1994 was the implementation of a local ordinance designed to prevent parking on all city streets during specified time periods to allow the unhindered operation of street sweepers. As a result.of enforcing this ordinance, the total number of parking citations rose 113% in 1994. Parking citations are generally issued by cadets, who are part time employees. The cadets monitor public streets for all parking violations, including the time limited parking in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to Moorpark College, the street sweeping violations and other sign violations. They also patrol public and commercial parking lots for fire lane and disabled persons parking space violations. Traffic Accident Statistics ACCIDENT SUMMARY 1994 1993 1992 Total Non -Injury Accidents` 149 (+15%) 130 138 Total Injury Accidents' 78 (13°6) 90 72 Total Persons Injured` 127 (+21 °6) 100 111 Total Accidents ` 227 (+3%) 220 210 * Includes State Route 118 statistics Parking citations 1994 2537 +65% 1993 1540 1992 1345 State Route 118 Accident 1994 1993 1992 Summary Injury Accidents 19 (-62°.6) 51 30 Non -Injury Accidents 49 (-40°b) 81 60 Total Accidents 68 (-48%) 132 90 Enforcement Statistics Moving violations / mechanical citations 1994 3643 -16% 1993 4328 1992 5441 A resource to fhe community!" Resource Center I T U E M E r�1� U III C E �_l One of the most significant events to occur for the Moorpark Police Department in 1994 was the creation of a Resource Center in downtown Moor- park. By establishing a small office at the intersec- tion of Moorpark Avenue and High Street, we were able to bring a vital law enforcement presence to the residents, shoppers and business people in the heart of the community. The Resource Center opened October 1st, with a dedication ceremony held during the annual Moorpark Country Days celebration. Inspired from a proposal made by the city council, the idea for a police storefront took off when Charles Abbott, who contracts with the city to provide building and safety engineering services, offered to allow the police department to use a front room in their. office for free. Abbott's leased offices, in a former bank building owned by the city, was completely remodeled. The city then purchased some furniture and equipment to make the Resource Center operational. Lt. Rouse, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and Deputy Jody Keller -Smith then embarked on a quest to find local residents who would be willing to share their time as volunteer staff for the Resource Center. 21 residents quickly signed up and their training into the opera- tions of the police department began. The volunteers were trained to be able to respond to general ques- tions likely to be asked by people who would come into the Resource Center. The volunteers also learned how to take fingerprints, making us able to provide the only local resource for residents to have their prints taken for licensing requirements. A white "uniform" shirt, with the city seal and "Police Department Resource Center" emblazoned across the front, was then designed. The volunteers purchased their own shirts, which they wear while working their shifts at the center. With subsequent training by Dep. Allen Devers, a number of volunteers have learned how to take certain police reports. These reports range from minor crime reports to lost and found property reports. By having volunteers taking these reports, we are able to save significant patrol duty time, which can better be used for calls that require a sworn police officer. In order to establish a team spirit and efficient avenue of communication between police department staff and the volunteers, Kathy LeClair was chosen as the lead volunteer for the Resource Center. Kathy is a special person who brings a tremendous level of energy and talents to the police department. Even though she is a resident of Thousand Oaks, Kathy has adopted this program as her way of serving the community. We are very fortunate to have her, and all of the volunteers, serve as a "resource to the commu- nity." Resource Center Volunteers Presenting those citizens who assist the police department as a "resource to the community:" Jean Atzei Lori Barondess Jonas Casas Marie Corning Judi Daufeldt Leona Grossman Frank Judah Karl Kesler Jane Lavallee Kathy LeClair Jackie Lipka Judie Loncaric Holly Lorenz Cathy Lousen Sue Nordman Juan Sanchez -Chew Claudia Sarmiento Robert Silver Alan Wunderlich Operations The Resource Center, located at 18 W High Street, is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. It is staffed by one or two volunteers at a time. Volunteers are able to provide the following services: Fingerprinting for licensing purposes Take minor police reports Call in a deputy to handle a citizen request at the counter Present crime prevention information Loan out engraving tools to local residents Answer questions or direct people to the appropri- ate public agency 12 N IAdelante The Moorpark Police Department recognized the need for a unique traffic safety program directed towards recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America who were now driving on Moorpark's streets. Because of differing laws and social behaviors between California and their home countries, and due to language barriers, we decided that an educational program conducted by patrol deputies in Spanish would be a viable method of improving the safety of these drivers, their passengers and other motorists. Late in 1993, we received a grant from the California Highway Patrol to train deputies on how to conduct traffic safety classes in Spanish. The grant also funded the purchase of child safety seats and bicycle helmets for these families who could not afford them. The bulk of the program, named "Adelante" (Spanish for "moving forward"), was conducted in 1994. Sr. Dep. Jerry Hernandez started the Adelante program. After he promoted to sergeant early in the year, Deputies Albert Miramontes and Jerardo Gomez took over. Working closely with the local Catholic Chanties program, they conducted public meetings with the targeted audiences. In these talks, the deputies stress the importance of wearing seat belts and of placing children in approved child seats. They also explained that the public and law enforcement have a zero tolerance for drunk driving. Other important issues such as proper licensing and insurance were discussed as well. The Adelante deputies used a variety of presentation methods to reach the audience. Radio spots on Spanish language stations were recorded and played as part of the stations' public broadcast commitment. T-shirts, pencils and stickers bearing the Adelante logo were given out to participants and their children during the meetings at public information booths set up during community -wide events. Using a decorated classic truck as a float, Dep. Miramontes recruited several young students to ride along and cheer on the Adelante message as they drove down the annual Country Days parade route. Adelante has provided a unique opportunity for deputies to not only educate on traffic safety, but to interact with a segment of our community that typically has little understanding of law enforcement. The deputies were able to explain how and when to call a police officer and what authority that officer has. Adelante served to improve our relationship with this part of the public as well as improve community traffic safety. The formal Adelante program ended in 1994, but we were granted an extension to continue opera- tions under the CHP grant into early 1995. After the grant is concluded, we will continue this viable program by having the participating deputies make their presentations as collateral assignments to their regular patrol functions. This will allow them to continue to serve as a resource to this segment of our community and to serve as a channel of communication between many of the downtown Moorpark residents and the police department. The Adelante program enhances our citywide traffic safety and community services programs by bringing the message of public safety to a part of our community that typically is underserved by law enforcement. Adelante Statistics Total presentations made: 14 Total persons attending: 800 Child seats given: 20 Child bicycle helmets given: 20 G 0�TREACyA P�\'QO^ ADELANTE z� X� �00 O�Q NTY SHERIVF '' CIT O MOOrpalrlt "A resource fo the community!" CRIME RATE V Crime rates are important tools to measure our performance, both as a police department and as a community. Perhaps a more important measure is the perception of the crime problem by our citizens. We have continued our pro -active approach of crime prevention programs and education along with enforcement. Our goals this R past year were to continue taking a zero -tolerance approach towards gangs along with targeting street level narcotics users. The Police Department, as always, served as a resource to those agencies and organizations who promote intervention programs for youth at risk. IPart I crimes are those which are more serious in nature and Part II crimes are the less serious offenses. n� PART I CRIMES l�1 During 1994 in the City of Moorpark there were 531 Part I reported crimes (see adjacent page). This repre- sents a rate of 19.23 crimes per 1000 population, which is the lowest rate of all of all the Sheriff's contract N ; cities. jJ Regarding violent Part 1 crimes, we experienced a slight increase in homicides (1 to 2), rapes (3 to 5) and robberies (12 to 13). There was a significant drop of over 25% in aggravated assaults . Aggravated assault includes all assaults on a person that would constitute a felony. This is partly attributed to the reduction in gang violence we have experienced this past year. Moorpark experienced an overall 13.6% reduction in violent crime. SOf serious property crimes, burglary continues to be the leading Part I crime within the city. On a positive note, residential burglary was reduced over 13% and commercial burglary over 21%. Of concern is the 88% T increase in vehicle burglaries (46 to 88). This is partly attributed not only to narcotics users taking advantage of a crime of opportunity, but also to other individuals who desire to obtain money illegally in a quick man- ner. In more than one instance where individuals were arrested for vehicle burglaries, additional burglaries were cleared after the fact. One example was an arrest of two local adults who had recently burglarized a vehicle in the Campus Park neighborhood just prior to Christmas. After interviewing the suspects, Moor- park detectives cleared 14 other vehicle burglaries. TPART II CRIMES Moorpark reflected a 7.4% decrease in reported Part II crimes. Arrests for driving under the influence and I reports of vandalism reflected the largest decreases (38% and 3 1 % respectively). It appears more citizens are designating a sober individual to drive. Graffiti offenses, both gang and tagger related, continue to decline. Simple assaults, in contrast to aggravated assaults, increased over 35% (1/3 of these reported as domestic violence related). As a result of our increased effort to target narcotics related offenses, there were over 45% S more arrests of people for being under the influence of narcotics. A good portion of these arrests were of those who claim some type of gang affiliation. 1 1994 Highlights for all Sheriff's Jurisdictions Combined I1. 1994 represents the lowest overall crime rate in 22 years 2. Nearly 2 out of every 10 charges filed by deputies were narcotics related �y 3. Charges brought against juveniles for violent crimes increased 6.4% 4. Deputy initiated public contacts are up 14% 5. 7 out of 10 violent crimes are Aggravated Assault 6. Charges brought against juveniles for violent acts have increased over 440% since 1988 S7. Deputies are dealing with more serious offenders every year 14 0 Part I Crimes ACTUAL NUMBERS RATE PER 1000 OF POPULATION 1993 1994 1993 1994 % Change HOMICIDE 1 2 0.04 0.07 96.7 RAPE 3 5 0.11 0.18 63.9 ROBBERY 12 13 0.44 0.47 6.5 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 50 38 1.84 1.38 -25.3 TOTAL VIOLENT 66 58 2.43 2.1 -13.6 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 112 99 4.13 3.59 -13.1 COMMERCIAL BURGLARY 51 41 1.88 1.48 -21 VEHICLE BURGLARY 46 88 1.69 3.19 88.1 GRAND THEFT 61 52 2.25 1.88 -16.2 PETTY THEFT 131 147 4.83 5.32 10.3 AUTO THEFT 44 43 1.62 1.56 -3.9 ARSON 8 3 0.29 0.11 -63.1 TOTAL PROPERTY 453 473 16.69 17.13 2.7 TOTAL PART 1 519 531 19.12 19.23 0.6 How Are Crimes Counted? The Department utilizes the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). In this method, only crimes reported to the police are counted. The UCR provides a uniform method of classifying and reporting selected criminal offenses on a national as well as statewide basis. Not all crimes are counted nationwide. In order to maintain consistency across jurisdictional boundaries, government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Bureau of Crime Statistics, have collected selected offenses from all law enforcement agencies. These crimes are specifically defined and were selected because of their seriousness and frequency of occurrence. Part I crimes are divided into two sections: violent and property. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, thefts, and arson. Other crimes fall into a category called Part II crimes. The % Change column represents the change in figures from 1993 to 1994, adjusted for the change in Moorpark's population. "14 resource fo Me coinmunily!" Emergency Demand for Deputy Deputy Demand is a means of counting the number of specific incidents where a citizen requests that an M officer respond. They range from emergency calls to requests for public service. Typically, emergency calls require two or more deputies to respond, while report calls necessitate only one. We obviously place a higher priority on emergency calls and deputies are dispatched to them regardless of other calls that have been pending. Demand does not include officer initiated activity, such as traffic citations, investigative stops, ospecial enforcement, or public relations contacts. Total Demand in 1994 decreased slightly, after having risen 4% from 1992. Demand was 7597 in 1992, 7878 R in 1993 and 7626 in 1994 (down 3.2%). However, emergency Demand has risen dramatically. We experienced a 65% rise in this category of calls, from 296 to 484. This may be attributable to several factors, one of which would be a reclassification by n Sheriffs Dispatch of all domestic disturbance calls to the emergency category. The other factor might also be �1 the increased public sensitivity to domestic violence as a result of increased media scrutiny and, specifically, the O.J. Simpson case publicity. For the entire Sheriffs Department, Demand for domestic incidents grew from 12% to 56% of the total emergency Demand. Because emergency calls necessitate at least two deputies to respond, and take longer to resolve (average range is 55.7 to 69.2 minutes each), other pending calls typically wait a longer period for a deputy to arrive. SWe also look at the Demand for deputies from the perspective of how long it will generally take a deputy to arrive at the scene of an emergency call after the dispatch center has been notified. We study that by looking at the T range of time it takes to respond to 95% of the calls. After establishing that range, we can say that in 95% of all emergency calls, a deputy will arrive within that specified range. In 2.5% of the cases, the deputy will arrive before the range and 2.5% will have a deputy arrive after the range. A 1994 Emergency response range 5.7 to 7.1 minutes 1993 Emergency response range 4.2 to 7.4 minutes It appears that we are taking a slightly longer period of time to respond to emergency calls. This is in T proportion to the increased numbers of emergency Demand calls, which require more deputies to handle and which take up more deputy time to resolve. Domestic Violence As mentioned above, we have experienced an increased Demand to handle domestic violence incidents in S 1994. Demand includes both domestic violence crimes and domestic incidents. Incidents are those situations where a domestic argument may have occurred, or it may have been perceived as having occurred. Domestic m incidents are not crimes. Domestic violence crimes are situations where a spousal battery has occurred. Spousal battery is a felony. The crime defines those situations where a spouse, cohabitating partner or co - parent is injured as the result of an intentional assault by their partner. When deputies respond to domestic calls and they find an injured party, regardless of the degree of the injury, they must arrest. I In many domestic incidents, a spouse is assaulted but not injured. These cases are misdemeanors and require that the victim place the offending spouse under citizen's arrest. C With the increased public awareness of domestic violence, it may be that victims are more likely to report the crime to law enforcement. Additionally, victims of simple assault may be more willing to request prosecution and will make a citizen's arrest as a means to prevent future incidents that could then result in serious injury. It S is important to note that both homicides in Moorpark in 1994 were domestic violence cases. mporDomestic Incidents 1994 65 1993 33 Domestic Crimes 1994 58 1993 39 16 Our Response to Gangs The Moorpark Police Department has made a commitment to the community to proactively deal with gang members and their criminal behavior. We have a "zero tolerance" for criminal behavior and we will arrest gang members whenever we have the probable cause to do so. We also work closely with probation officials to monitor gang members and to ensure that they comply with the court ordered terms and conditions of their probation. Deputies document any probation violations and forward the reports to the probation officers who then present them to the Court to show how a gang member is intentionally disregarding the Court's orders. The key factor in having an effective gang intervention program is the patrol detail. Street deputies in Moorpark know who the gang members are and they know the individual probation terms for each of the gang members. We have selected several experienced deputies to mentor the newer deputies in order to teach them how to deal with gang incidents and gang members. These "mentor" deputies comprise our Gang Detail. Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson heads up the detail. Deputies Jose Lopez, Allen Devers and Jerry Gomez assist him. Among all of the officers in Moorpark, Dep. Devers made the most contacts with gang members in 1994. Dep. Lopez was instrumental in preparing an easy to use chart listing specific probation terms of each of the gang members. Cadets Juan Ponce and Debbie Runkle assisted the gang detail by tracking all of our statistics. In 1994 we had a significant increase in the monitoring of gang members and a reduction in gang incidents. 1994 Gang Data GANG VOP GANG GANG INCIDENTS REPORTS CONTACTS ARRESTS 1994 57 155 1139 269 (-29%) (+26%) (+36%) (+52%) 1993 80 115 836 177 1992 193 205 509 N/A Substance Abuse Enforcement Gang Incidents are crimes committed by gang members (acting as a gang), reported gang graffiti and incidents (such as distur- bances) where no crime occurred, but the deputy felt it was significant enough to document. Gang contacts are the individual contacts of gang members, either through the completion of a Field Interview (FI) card or by documen- tation in an official report. Violations of Probation reports are written documents that identify how a gang member on probation violated their probation, even if no criminal offense occurred. We recognize the benefits of maintaining a proactive approach in policing in order to reduce criminal activity within the community. Experience has shown that there is a direct correlation between substance abuse and crime. With this in mind, we have made every effort to ensure that our patrol officers are given the training and tools that will enable them to investigate people who are using narcotics. Our emphasis on narcotics enforcement has resulted in a signifi- cant increase in arrests. Since many of our property type crimes are the result of substance abuse, this means that our deputies are addressing the root causes of crime, and are not just treating the symptoms. The role of law enforcement is to prevent crime and to investigate those who commit crimes. As just one part of the criminal justice system, we work to enhance public safety. People who are arrested for narcotic abuse are referred to the court system, which then can make a decision to incarcerate or to assist in rehabilitation. In this manner, we believe that we can not only aid in public safety, but we may be helping people to move onto the road to recovery. 1993 1994 Under the influence arrests: 83 125 (50% increase) Possession and sales arrests: 37 49 (32% increase) "A resource fa fit¢ cnmmunify!" January Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and several Explorer cadets spend a Saturday at Mountain Meadow School fingerprinting kids for their parents' records. 150 youngsters are printed and 100 bicycles are engraved with a parent's driver's license number. February Our second Emergency Medical Technician training class begins. Five deputies and three municipal employees participate. Pruner Health Services provides the instructors at no charge to the City as part of their community outreach program. Three Moorpark residents participate in the Citizen Acad- emy, sponsored by the Thousand Oaks Police Department and East County Police Services Division. This program gives interested residents an in-depth look at how the Sheriffs Department operates. Participants tour most of the Sheriff Department facilities as well as ride -a -long with patrol deputies. March The Neighborhood Watch Crime Alert phone line is activated for the first time. The Community Services Officer records a short message regarding significant criminal activity or crime trends in various parts of the city. Residents can call in and select that part of the community that they are interested in hearing about. Crime Alert encourages residents to become more aware of what is happening in their neighborhoods so that we can all "Take a bite out of Crime." April The EMT class graduates. Each of the Moorpark deputies andmunici- pal employees are provided with an emergency medical kit that con- tains the equipment they were trained to use to help save lives. Deputies Craig Smith, Kent Adlof and Ron Nelson are promoted to Senior Deputy and transferred to their new assignments in the Detention Services Division. Dep. Don Aguilar was selected as the 1994 Officer of the Year for the Moorpark Police Department. He was recognized by Sheriff Larry Carpenter at a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Moorpark. Dep. Aguilar was given the award because of his outstanding work, especially when dealing with gang members. This award also coin- cided with his promotion to Senior Deputy. (See photo on facing page) May Marty Rouse is promoted to Lieutenant and remains in Moor- park. Lt. Geoff Dean moves on to a new administrative job in the Detention Services Division. Deputy Larry Bull is selected as our misdemeanor detective. June Sgt. Wm. T. (Terry) Hughes is brought on board as the Detective Sergeant. This is Terry's second assignment in Moorpark, having served as the Administrative Sergeant 8 years ago. Sgt. Parks borrows the Camarillo PD radar display trailer for a trial run on Moorpark streets. The trailer provides a large visual notice to passing motorists of their speed. Drivers can then compare their speed with the attached speed limit sign. This is a positive means to remind motorists to slowdown and drive safely. The trailer is a success, resulting in a number of residents calling in to recommend that Moorpark purchase their own trailer. Lt. Rouse begins intensive plan- ning for the opening of a "store- front' office in the down- town area. August We receive the Moorpark milk caps (FOGS) and begin distribut- ing them to local children. Our POGS are the first ever used in the Sheriffs Department. They are an immediate hit with the youngsters and the deputies who pass them out. Dep. Albert Miramontes is selected as our newest commercial vehicle enforcement officer and heads out for two weeks of training with the CHP. September Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and Dep. Jody Keller -Smith begin training the 17 citizen volunteers who will staff the new downtown Resource Center when it opens in October. October The grand opening for the Re- source Center was a success. Held in conjunction with Moorpark Country Days, the opening was well attended. Many residents dropped by during the day to check out the facility. A number even signed up to help out as volunteers for the Resource Center. 18 0 The Country Days parade and street faire on High Street was well -run and we had no problems. The commu- nity enjoyed a great parade and a pleasant afternoon visiting under the pepper trees on High Street. Lt. Rouse joins with Thousand Oaks to prepare a grant request to seek state funding of a deputy to enforce Alcoholic Beverage Control laws. The officer would both educate local business owners and conduct stings to ensure that minors are not able to purchase alcohol. The Roamin' Relics car club held their annual car show in Moorpark this year. Almost 300 cars and trucks, along with commercial vendors, spread out along the entire length of High Street. The police department established a site and traffic plan for the event, ensuring the best use of downtown streets. The event was very popular, attract- ing participants and spectators from throughout Southern California. The beauty of High Street was a real enhancement to the event and the club plans to repeat it next year in Moorpark. December Moorpark's new radar display trailer arrived. It will be outfitted with a sign that invites residents to call us to request that the trailer be used on streets that they are concerned about the speeds of passing vehicles. The trailer will be ready for daily use in January 1995. Moorpark deputies helped to identify several needy families in town who would be candidates to receive a visit from "Santa," delivering food and toys just before Christmas. This is a long running program that deputies and staff from throughout the Sheriffs Department organize to bring some joy to others during the holidays. Acknowledgments We would like to thank all of the personnel who worked in the Moorpark Police Department in 1994 for being part of "The Team!" In addition to the people listed on page 2, the following individuals worked here during the year: Sr. Dep. Kent Adlof Cadet Jeff Brooks Sr. Dep. Tim Cowgill Lt. Geoff Dean CLU student Richard Elias Sgt. Jerry Hernandez Sr. Dep. Steve Lengyel CLU student Gloria Sanchez Sr. Dep. Craig Smith Dep. Randy Watkins Dep. Gregg Willson We would also like to thank the following people for their help in preparing the Annual Report: Vern Cook Research and Analysis Manager for the Ventura County Sheriffs Department Stacie Snow Sheriffs Department Statistician Glenn Grossman Technical Reserve Deputy and photographer This report was designed and written by Sgt. Keith Parks. 14 resource fo fhe communify!" i /, S1JERIF[ LAR-RY C.,kR DKANY f_IE.R ith the dedication of this annual report going to the partnership enjoyed with the citizens of P P enlY Ventura County, my introductory message provides the ideal opportunity to reemphasize the importance of, and gratitude for, the tremendous support this organization gains from the people we serve. Contrary to what many people read in the newspapers these days, Community Policing is not a new term. The emphasis by many people is usually placed on the word "policing" when in fact, and in Ventura County, the emphasis is rightly placed on the word "community. " The people we serve appreciate our efforts, and respond enthusiastically when we ask for their help and support. A bond of trust has been established with the people we serve that is probably stronger now than ever before in my 30 years of law enforcement. Our efforts at citizen involvement and community education are paying off. Their trust in us is a gift we must always protect through integrity, perseverance and pride. I speak with several people every day. Many of them tell me what a great job this organization does to aid this victim or to resolve that incident. After thanking them for the comment, I usually try to say something like, "We are only as effective as the people we serve help us to be. " I think it is very important that our citizens recognize that we appreciate them as well. That is my definition of "community." The partnership we must always strive to maintain is critical to any success we all enjoy as a community. Our department has recently enjoyed some pivotal successes in involving the com- munity in this partnership to keep Ventura County safe. Areas where deputies were once the targets of mistrust now welcome us and provide help. People volunteer for training so that they can aid in making their own com- munities safer. The confidence that we enjoy from the public is a tribute to all of you. Your daily efforts and sacrifices have earned this department a reputation as one of the best. In cooperation with our citizens, over one thousand of whom are active volunteers in everything from Search and Rescue to Citizens Patrols, this county continues to be one of the safest places to live in the United States. Throughout this past year, the people of the County of Ventura and the Sheriff's Department have been faced with challenges which have forced us to re-evaluate ourselves and our mission in the ever changing climate of the times. Our department has responded to fires, floods, earthquakes, and mud slides. We have been shot at and threatened. Our most exhausting struggles, however, have been the ones waged in support of a stable economic base. In early 1993, the citizens of Ventura County supported a postcard drive which was mailed to the Board of Supervisors with the message "Don't Cut the Sheriff's Budget One Penny." They renewed their support in November of that year by joining concerned citizens throughout the state in passing a half cent sales tax initiative to fund public safety. Due to the uncertainty of our funding sources which resulted from decisions made outside the department we were forced to mount yet another campaign to "Close the Loophole." Sponsored by Citizens for a Safe Ventura County, we cam- paigned hard from January through April and secured the signatures of nearly 58,000 citizens of the county in support of our effort. There is no doubt the people have again reaffirmed public safety as their number one priority. It is now time to rededicate ourselves to the standards set by the Sheriff when he took office. Our ethical values must remain above reproach; our word must be consistently reliable and we must trust each other and be worthy of that trust. We must ensure that our behavior is free from prejudice and dis- crimination. We have been faced with critical issues and we have met them squarely and without equivocation. We are committed to provide the citizens of this county and its contract cities with the best law enforcement in the State of California and to return to them in quality service the trust and support they have given us. We believe our organizational integrity is now secure and our next challenge is to strive to maintain and enhance our professionalism and reputation. By working together, we have once again reached our goal. I SHERIFF UNDERSHERIFF MANAGER LIEUTENANT Office of Emergency Svcs Administrative Support CHIEF DEPUTY CHIEF DEPUTY East County West County Police Services Police Services w__ iiiiiiiiiiAl CHIEF DEPUTY DEPUTY DetentionW"EF Support ServicesServices COMMANDS I OMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMAN Administrative City of Special Administrative City of Pre -Trial Sentenced Court Services Thousand Oaks Services Services Camarillo Facilities Facilities Se Anil LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT City of Administrative Investigative Major Crimes Special Forensic City and County Main Jail Division Court & Civil Moorpark Services Services Investigations Investigations Services Services Administration Process LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT Patrol City of Headquarters City of City of Auxiliary Watch Services Thousand Oaks Station Ojai Fillmore Programs Commanders LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT Internal Affairs Information & Training Services LIEUTENANT LIEUTENANT MANAGER MANAGER PSYCHOLOGIST Honor Farm Todd Road Personnel Fiscal Psychological Branch Jail Facility Services Services Services ADMINISTIRA-MVE SUPPORT The Administrative Support Unit provides direct assis- tance to the Sheriff and Undersheriff. Duties of the unit in- clude special project development, legislative tracking and communication with legislators, program evaluation and implementation, research and planning, as well as policies and procedures development. Members of the Administra- tive Support unit also serve on various committees within the department. Law enforcement procedures are continually reviewed and changes effected through Department General Orders and Directives developed for the four police services divi- sions. Legal mandates, special projects and new programs are also responsibilities of this unit. The unit is staffed by Sergeant Bruce Hansen who acts as administrative aide to Sheriff Carpenter and, with the re- tirement of Sergeant Bob Johnston, by Senior Deputy June Seery who provides administrative support to Undersheriff Bryce. Administrative secretarial support is provided by Man- agement Assistants Debbie Lopez and Donna Jadlot. (Clockwise from upper left) Sgt. Bruce Hansen, Sgt. Bob Johnston, Sr. Dep. June Seery, Donna, jadlot, Debbie Lopez. COUNTY E SERVICES DIVISION he West County Police Services Division is managed by Chief Deputy Ken Kipp. This division is functionally very di- verse and provides a number of both regional and department wide services. The division staff coordinates the activities of the Special Services Bureau, West County Patrol, and Central Patrol. The primary thrust behind the division is the desire to deliver cost-effective services tailored to the needs of each recipient. From narcotics enforcement to patrol coverage in three contract cities the division strives to apply the concepts of Commu- nity Oriented Law Enforcement. The Special Services Bureau pro- vides the technical investigative sup- port for the department in such spe- cialized areas as homicide investiga- tion, sex crimes, and intelligence to name but a few. The Crime Lab pro- vides regional services to surrounding police agencies in such complex areas as substance analysis and ballistics and photo lab services. The West County Patrol Bureau provides services to the contract cities Lt. Hank Chandler of Ojai and Fillmore as well as the surrounding unincorporated areas. The bureau's units provide regional services such as air support, search and res- cue, and dispatch. The Central Patrol Bureau provides patrol services in the City of Camarillo and the surrounding unincorporated areas. The bureau is very responsive to the needs of their community; providing many unique services such as the Disaster Area Response Team, while maintaining one of the most cost effi- cient police departments to be found. The per capita cost of law enforce- ment in Camarillo is a remarkable $87.85 a year. The 244 sworn and 90 non -sworn members of the division work hard to create a safe environment for the 145,000 residents they directly serve. They take pride in the efficient service they provide while never losing sight of the need to demonstrate empathy with those who have been victimized. At left: The West County Mobile Community Sheriffs Station. Below: Lt. Gary Cook (r) and Lt. Gary Backman in the Central Dispatch Operations Center. The Sheriff's Department's eight Search and Rescue teams are coordinated by the Aviation Unit staff. The 170 volunteers donate to their communities over 12,000 hours per year in training and over 10,000 hours per year in actual rescues. The teams consist of experts in mountaineering, underwater search and recovery, mounted units, and medi- cal specialists including nurses and doctors. The West County Patrol Bureau is managed by Commander Richard Purnell. The Bureau provides direct services to a population of about 66,500 in the cities of Fillmore and Ojai as well as twelve other unique unincorporated communities. Through its four stations located in the Ojai Valley, Santa Clara Valley, Lockwood Valley; and Ventura, the bureau patrols such diverse areas as the beaches of Oxnard, the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest, and the agricultural areas of the Santa Clara and Ojai Valleys. One hundred forty deputies assigned to the bureau work closely with a well trained con- tingent of about 210 community based volunteers to deliver services tailored to the needs of each area. These volunteers serve as reserve deputies, disaster area relief team workers, citizen patrol members and search and rescue personnel. The bureau's philosophy is built around Community Oriented Policing. To ensure that the services provided are responsive to each community's needs, the four stations are assisted by the Sheriff's Mobile Station and storefront offices in Piru and North Fillmore. These programs reach out into the communities they serve. Through these efforts crime prevention programs such as neighborhood watch, foot patrols, bike patrols, and home security advice are available. Lt. Dave Tennessen Yu The Aviation Unit, under Lieutenant David Tennessen, is a regional service that provides air support to patrol operations, search and rescue, emergency medical evacuations, fire suppression and prevention, disaster assessment, and investigative surveillance. The highly skilled flight crews fly over 800 missions per year, often under hazardous weather conditions in order to protect lives. The crews utilize infrared night viewing systems for ground searches, light enhancement goggles for night flights, and color video broadcast capabilities to report disaster conditions. The Ojai Area Station, under the command of Lieutenant Jim Barrett, serves a population of nearly 30,000 residents living in the City of Ojai and four densely populated unincorporated communities. At the hub of the Ojai Valley is the City of Ojai. The City Manager and Council have enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Sheriff's Department since contracting in 1980. During 1994, City of Ojai statistics reflected the highest rate of calls for service (580 calls per 1,000 population) of any city served by the Sheriffs Department. In spite of this heavy workload, Ojai City deputies continue to have one of the shortest emergency response time averages within the department. The thirty-three personnel assigned to the Ojai Area Station work closely with the citizens in their areas which ensures a partnership approach to crime problems. Neighborhood Watch, horse patrols, bike patrols, volunteer patrols and community officers are all utilized in an effort to provide the best law enforcement service possible. The Ojai City Council: (l-r) Robert McKinny, Nina Shelley, Joseph Devito, James Loebl, Steve Olsen, Andrew Belknap —City Manager. (Below) Fillmore City Council: (l-r) Roger Campbell, Scott Lee, Linda Brewster, Don Gunderson, Mike McMahan, Roy Payne, City Manager. The City of Fillmore contracted with the Sheriffs Department in 1987 for law enforcement services. The city's police department and county law enforcement services are comprised of 35 person- nel and are under the direction of Lieutenant Richard Diaz. Station personnel are responsible for approximately 450 square miles of service area, including the City of Fillmore and the com- munity of Piru. The sixteen Sheriffs personnel under contract to the City of Fillmore provide its 12,922 residents with a full range of law enforcement services. The Fillmore Mountain Search and Res- cue and Citizen Patrol/Disaster Response Teams are headquartered at the station and both provided invaluable emergency response to the city in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge 6.7 earthquake. The station operates a police storefront in the City of Fillmore and a Sheriffs storefront in the community of Piru. Other services in- clude a K-9 unit, DARE and BECOOL programs, Neighborhood Watch, bicycle patrols and a special enforcement detail. "When the City of Fillmore experienced two significant natu- ral disasters, the 1994 earthquake and the 1995floods, the Sheriff's Department provided the leadership needed to ensure thatpublic safety was restored and maintained as quickly as possible. The resources made available to this community by the Sheriffs De- partment allowed us to better assess our needs so that necessary decisions could be made by the council to put this community back on track. " —MayorLinda Brewster Since the incorporation of the City of Camarillo in 1964, law enforce- ment services have been provided on a contractual basis by the Sheriffs Department. Under the command of Ray Abbott, the 37 sworn and 10 non - sworn personnel are assigned to provide police service to the city. They perform a full range of law enforcement services to a geographical jurisdic- tion of 18 square miles and a population of 57,000. This represents a ratio of 0.8 officers per 1,000 population and a per capita cost of $87.85. In 1994 these officers responded to 17,276 calls for service within the city and made 2,101 arrests. 1994 marks the 30th year of ser- vice to the city by the Sheriffs Depart- ... ment. It is anticipated that in May of 1995 the new police facility will be �I completed. This will enhance the department's ability to provide services to the residents of the Camarillo area. Recently, the city implemented a civilian report writing program whereby several classifications of police reports are written by Sheriffs Service Technicians. This effort is to provide more uncommitted Lt. Steve Giles patrol time for the beat officers and thus decrease response times to emergencies and other serious calls. As in years past, Camarillo personnel continue to coordinate such citizen participation programs as the Citizen Patrol, Disaster As- sistance Response Team, Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch, "Adelante" Traffic Safety Education Program, School Brown Bag Pro- gram, Stop on a Dime, Bicycle Safety, Cops N Jocks, R.M. Pyles' Boys Camp, Gang Awareness, Operation I.D., and the CAT (Combat Auto Theft) Program. "The contract arrangement with the Ventura County Sheriff to provide police services has been very effective. Our city has one of the lowest crime rates in California and that is due in large part to our police department. The Sheriffs officers are visible and involved in the community. " —Michael Morgan, Mayor "The Sheriffs service provides us with very qualified people and with all the needed backup, from the laboratories to the heli- copters, that can be called upon to assist us. The contract method is both cost-effective and efficient in terms of delivering service. " —Bill Little, City Manager Below: The Camarillo City Council: (l-r) David M. Smith, Charlotte Craven, Mike Morgan, Stanley J. Daily, Ken Gose (Inset: City Manager Bill Little). There are currently 24 sworn and two non -sworn personnel assigned to the Camarillo Station. Together they provide law enforcement services to the unincorporated area which surrounds the City of Camarillo and includes: Somis, Camarillo Heights, Las Posas Estates, Nyeland Acres, the Oxnard Plain and county line beaches. This area encompasses 148 square miles and serves a population of 22,000 people creating a ratio of one officer per 1,000 population. In 1994 these per- sonnel re- sponded to 3,789 calls for law enforce- ment service and made 549 arrests. (Right:) Cmdr. Ray Abbott and Sgt. Mike Lewis review plans for the new Camarillo Police Station. 7J UeS The Special Services Division is managed by Commander William Wade and includes a variety of special investigative and technical services. The Major Crimes Unit, directed by Lieutenant Larry Robertson, is respon- sible for the investigation of all felony crimes against the person, major fraud investigations, officer involved shootings, and executive protection. The Sexual Assault Unit, Fugitive/Warrant Detail and the Rural Crime Prevention Program are also under Lieutenant Robertson. During 1994 the number of homicides within the Sheriff's jurisdiction de- creased slightly from the previous year. Violent crime within the Sheriff's Depart- ment jurisdiction was down 9.6% for 1994 while violent crimes committed by juveniles increased by 6.4%. Aggravated assault ac- counted for 71% of all Part 1 violent crimes. Major Crimes investigators are handling more violent crimes related to gangs and drugs than in previous years. With over 600 major felony cases assigned during 1994, the Ma- jor Crimes Unit successfully cleared approxi- mately 86% of all assigned cases. The Fugitive/Warrant Detail handled approximately 27,000 warrants for 1994. About 2,000 of those warrants were for felony violations. Lt. Larry Robertson Under the direction of Lieutenant Craig Hus- band, the Special Investigations/Narcotics Unit is com- mitted to combating the devastating social, and eco- nomic ramifications of substance abuse. Despite a 15% reduction in manpower during 1994, the Narcotics Unit posted a 9.4% increase in arrests and a 14.2% increase in total drug seizures over the previous year. The street value of drugs seized in 1994 exceeds 7.2 million dollars. This equates to an average of nearly $20,000 of drugs being removed from the streets and communities of Ventura County each and every day. The Criminal Intelligence/Vice Unit, under the 172 z: direction of Commander William Wade, is charged Mfi with the responsibility of collecting and analyzing in- formation on criminal activity including the planning, Lt. Craig Husband organizing and financing of criminal activity, and pro- viding this information to the Sheriff for crime pre- vention and decision making purposes. The criminal intelligence process is a proactive, prevention oriented law enforcement strategy that endeavors to maintain the balance of individual rights and the controlling of criminal activity. (Below.) Balloons containing heroin The Sheriff's Crime Laboratory, under the direction of Lieutenant Paul Buckley, provides forensic services for all law enforcement agencies within the County. There are seventeen Criminalist positions performing analyses in Foren- sic Alcohol, Forensic Toxicology and Drugs, Forensic Serology and Trace Evi- dence, and Firearms and Comparative Analysis. The criminalists present their findings to law enforcement investigators and other concerned parties, and also provide expert testimony in court. The Forensic Alcohol Section analyzes body fluid samples to determine the blood alcohol concentrations in criminal cases ranging from homicides and other felony crimes to Coroner -Medical Examiner cases. In 1994 the section analyzed 4,962 samples, and spent approximately 190 hours testifying in court. The Forensic Toxicology Section analyzes body fluid samples for the pres- ence of drugs and drug metabolites, analyzes DUI and drug cases to determine the presence of illegal substances or prescription drugs, and provides toxicology work for the Coroner -Medical Examiner by analyzing body fluid and tissue samples for the presence of chemical substances or drugs. In 1994 the section performed 58,484 presumptive drug test and 21,751 confirmation drug tests. The Forensic Serology and Trace Evidence Section analyzes body fluids and physical evidence, particularly microscopic items such as hairs and fibers. In many cases the detailed microscopic examination of items of evidence will assist in corroborating a victim's statement or assist in proving that a suspect was at a crime scene or in contact with a victim. In 1994 the section conducted 18,622 examinations. The Firearms and Comparative Analy- sis Section examines firearms, does bullet and cartridge comparisons, test fires weapons, and does bullet trajectory analysis and re- construction. Also, the section examines items of evidence such as tools for striation marks in order to connect the tool with the crime scene. In 1994 the section conducted 1,389 examinations. Lt. Paul Buckley The Crime Lab also includes the technical services functions of the Bureau of Identification Field Evidence Technicians, the Photography Section, the Cal -ID Program, and the Property Room. The Bureau of Identification is staffed by four Sheriffs Service Technicians who perform the function of Field Evidence Technicians. This staff processes crime scenes which include photography, diagramming, recording and collecting evidence. Field Evidence Technicians also collect and examine latent prints using powders, chemical sprays, and the Alternate Light Source. In 1994 the unit handled 528 crime scene call -outs and processed 885 B.I. service requests. The Photography Section provides photography processing for all law enforcement agencies within the county. In 1994 the section handled 7,011 job requests, made 410,848 prints, and produced 96,560 mug photos. The Cal -ID Section examines latent fingerprints and compares them to known "ten -print" cards or prepares them for entry into the Cal -ID computer system. There the prints are searched in the Calif. Department of Jus- tice database for identification. In 1994 the section pro- cessed 3,085 latent fingerprint inquiries and processed 1,405 ten -print inquiries. The Property Room is responsible for the storage and security of evidence, found property, and property held for safekeeping, as well as being the transmittal point for all items of evidence being submitted to the Crime Lab. The Property Room annually receives approximately 12,000 articles of evidence and destroys about 300 fire- arms and about 600 pounds of drug evidence. DUNTY SERVICES DIVISION (Left) Students participate in the DARE program. he East County Division provides law enforcement services to citi- zens living in a 300 square mile area in the eastern portion of Ventura County. From the top of the Conejo grade to the Los Angeles County line, deputies based at the East County Station provide law enforcement ser- vice to approximately 166,000 citizens. The division is under the direction of Chief Robert Brooks, who oversees two cities in the area. Both the City of Thousand Oaks and the City of Moorpark contract with the Sheriffs Department for full service law enforcement and enjoy the status of having some of the lowest num- bers of reported crime in the nation. All deputies serving the East County Division, both city and un- incorporated, work out of the East County Station (right). In 1994 these deputies were responsible for handling 48,656 calls for service. The East County unincorporated areas include a popu- lation base of about 27,000 people. Included are the com- munities of Oak Park, Bell Canyon, Santa Susana Knolls, Box Canyon, unincorporated pockets in Simi and Newbury Park, Santa Rosa Valley, Lynn Ranch, Hidden Valley, High- way 118 to Somis, Grimes Canyon north to the summit, and all canyon areas surrounding the local incorporated cities. Patrol responsibility for the 233 square miles is divided into four beats, the extreme ends of which are 35 to 45 miles apart. Deputies in the unincorporated areas �k drive over 388,000 miles sy. a year, averaging about 1,100 miles every 24 hour period. With back-up so far away, and an in- Lt. Arve Wells creasing call load where the potential for violence is high, the Sheriff increased de- ployment during hours of darkness from one to two deputies per car in the unincorporated areas. One year later, statistics indicate an 8% increase in arrests, 33% increase in self initi- ated calls for service, and an 81.3% increase in the number of Field Interview cards completed. Future goals for patrol in- clude the establishment of a community oriented and prob- lem solving approach to service delivery including crime pre- vention programs for county area residents. The Investigations Bureau handles all follow-up work for reported crimes in the contract cities of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and the unincorporated areas. Significant success has been shown in 1994 identifying and arresting the people responsible for violent gang activity and serial robberies. Lt. William Montijo Moorpark Police Department Resource Center. Moorpark students at a local elementary school learn about drug abuse resistance. The City of Moorpark, located in southeastern Ventura County, is home to over 27,000 residents. For over eleven years the city has contracted with the Sheriffs Department for all police services and enjoys the lowest per capita crime rate in Ventura County. Lieutenant Marty Rouse directs the 19 sworn personnel assigned to Moorpark. Emphasis is placed on providing for a safe community through crime prevention and suppression, along with crime reduction through community outreach. In this time of limited resources, Moorpark deputies depend on citizen volunteers to provide some of the traditional police services such as report writing, fingerprinting and referral information. This cooperative citizen involvement allows deputies more time in the field and frees them to continue to take a pro -active approach to dealing with both gang and narcotics activity. The success of citizen involvement is demon- strated in the opening of the Moorpark Police Department Resource Center. The Resource Center is completely staffed by citizen volunteers who represent their police department on a daily basis. Moorpark City Council: (1-6 Patrick Hunter, Bernardo Perez, Paul Lawrason, Scott Montgomery, John Wozniak, City Manager Steve Kueny The City of Thousand Oaks has contracted with the Sheriffs Depart- ment for municipal police services for thirty years. Today, as the city's population reaches 110,000 and approximately 55 square miles, the citi- zens of Thousand Oaks are still enjoying the reputation as being one of the safest of any city nationwide with a population of over 100,000. Deputies working in the City of Thousand Oaks have truly developed a community based partnership with its citizens. The citizens of Thousand Oaks benefit by having a ratio of one officer per 1,187 residents and a cost per resident of approximately $92.00 annually for police services. This cost is significantly lower than other cities of comparable size. There are ap- proximately 82 sworn officers currently assigned to the Thousand Oaks Police Department in such diverse as- signments as: patrol, traffic, investiga- tions, crime prevention, narcotics, the special enforcement detail and admin- istration. The department has two of- ficers patrolling on bicycles and is in the process of establishing a "storefront" Community Resource Center. A "Citizen Academy" has been successfully implemented and is currently in- terviewing citizens for participation in the "Volunteers in Policing" program. The "Citizen Academy" provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement. The 12 week course is designed to give citizens an overview of police procedures on topics as diverse as: History of the Justice System; tours of the Main Jail, Dispatch Center and Crime Lab; Narcotic and K-9 demonstration; SWAT Team, Hostage Team and Bomb Team; Crime Analysis, Ride -Along; APOGEE Theater (Shoot - Don't Shoot Simulation) and the Air Unit. The "Citizen Academy" has graduated approximately 75 individuals and is currently training its fourth class. The "Volunteers in Policing" program involves citizen volunteers who will donate a minimum of six hours per week to the Police Department to help relieve sworn officers from the responsibility of some routine and non -hazardous functions of police work. Thousand Oaks City Council: (1-0 City Manager Grant Brimhall, Jaime Zukowski, Andrew Fox, Elois Lt. Bill Boyd Zeanah, Judy Lazar. Members of the Thousand Oaks Citizen Academy tour the crime lab. Lt. Mike Brown Watch Commander, East County Police Services heriff Carpenter's 1993 reorganization combined the former Custody and Court Services Divisions into the Detention Services Division. This new divi- sion is the largest in the department and functions much like a small city. Mandated services such as medical care, laundry services, meals, and lodging are provided on a year-round basis. The division is divided into three bureaus: Sen- tenced Facilities, Unsentenced Facilities, and Court Services. Chief Deputy Donald Lanquist oversees the division, with commanders assigned to manage each bureau. Increasing financial burdens and a variety of significant events made 1994 anything but business as usual. The population of our five jail facilities has contin- ued to show increasingly serious offenders. In the past, the majority of our inmates were in custody for misdemeanor charges. Currently, over 60% are in custody for felony charges. This problem has been exacerbated by the passing of the Three Strike Law which has impacted our jails with inmates more prone towards vio- lence. The opening of the Todd Road Jail will relieve our long-term overcrowding problem and allow us to better isolate violent inmates. We continue to provide a wide spectrum of successful inmate programs in the areas of substance abuse, education, vocational and jail industry to mention a few. All of these programs are funded by the Inmate Welfare Fund and staffed by a network of over 500 dedicated volunteers. Although some of our facilities were 200% above rated capacity, the hard work of our staff made 1994 another successful year. Lt. Geoff Dean Lt. Lance Young (Below.) Chaplain William Glaser The Emergency Response Team (ER7) assigned to the pre-trial facility. Commander Joe Harwell manages the Pre -Trial Detention Facility and the East County Jail. Both of the facilities are staffed with a cost-efficient mix of civilian and sworn staff. The pre-trial facility serves several roles. It is the booking and release location for the west end of the county, as well as housing all unsentenced and a large percentage of the sentenced inmates within the county jail system. The average daily population for the year was 968 inmates, which is 253% of the Board of Corrections' maximum rated capacity. The population peaked in July with 1,004 inmates. The East County Jail serves as the reception center for the east end of the county and houses workers who serve as work crews for the East County Sheriff's Facility. Throughout the year, a high level of staff professionalism and dedication have helped assure smooth running operations. A Sheriffs Service Technician monitors inmate activities from inside a quad booth. Gary Stallings Detention Services Division Food Services Manager With the opening of the first phase of the Todd Road Jail on March 15, 1995, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department took a major step toward allevi- ating the overcrowding that has burdened its jail system for many years. De- signed to house the bulk of the county's growing sentenced inmate population, the $53 million Todd Road Jail will initially hold up to 784 prisoners, and will have the capacity, through phased expansion, to accommodate over 2,300 pris- oners. Located a short drive east of Ventura, the jail is situated on 157 acres of county owned land surrounded by farms and citrus orchards. This location provides both privacy and room for future a growth. In order to reduce operating costs, the Todd Road Jail was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible, utilizing inmate labor to perform many functions such as landscaping and janitorial duties. A full- scale kitchen, laundry and warehouse are located within the facility, and are also operated through the use of inmate labor. The inmate management philosophy at Todd Road is a unique mix of two styles used successfully at other facilities. Offer- ing the best elements of both direct and indirect supervision, Interactive Inmate Management allows deputies unrestricted Lt. Tom Convery Todd Road Project Development Team: (l-r) Sgt. Jim Sliester, Sr Dep. Gordon Honey, Lt. Tom Convery, Chief Lanquist, Cmdr. Honrico, SST. Jackie Smith, Sgt. Ken Edling, Sgt. Bill Flannigan. access to inmate housing areas without the problems created by stationing them there. While inmates are kept under constant observation by non -sworn staff stationed in secure, elevated control rooms, deputies are free to patrol their "beats" through the inmate housing areas. The planners of the Todd Road Jail incorporated many unique and inno- vative features into the design of the facility. Of major concern during the design phase was California's long drought and the burdens it placed on resi- dential and commercial water usage. The solution at Todd Road was to utilize a vacuum plumbing system that dramatically reduced the amount of water required during each toilet flush. Innovations such as portable radios, personal duress alarms and a "watchtour" system enhance the safety and efficiency of the Todd Road Jail. In addition to portable radios, each staff member working in close proximity with inmates carries a duress alarm which, when activated, will immediately alert others of an emergency and instantly identify the location of the carrier. Cell checks conducted by deputies are automatically logged into the watchtour sys- tem utilizing hidden electronic sensors embedded in each dayroom wall, pro- viding supervisors with a positive means of ensuring accountability for regular checks. Built with an eye toward the future needs of Ventura County, the Todd Road Jail will continue to perform a vital function within the criminal justice system well into the 21st Century. (Above, middle, right:) Citizens tour the new Todd Road,jail. TODDROAD JAAL 1, a.O..t The Branch Jail Honor Farm began operation in 1957 with 25 inmates, a few chickens and some pigs. The inmates made baskets and small hobby items. Today, the Branch Jail Honor Farm houses 200 male inmates in a minimum security facility and 180 female inmates in a medium security facility. The farm operation supplies 175 tons of pork and another 10 tons of beef to the jail kitchens annually. The farm operation also encompasses a complete wood shop and a metal fabrication shop. An on -site laundry operation sorts, cleans and folds tons of clothing; enough for three sets of clothing for every inmate in custody. Although very old, the men's facility has undergone several major renovations to enable it to house up to 200 inmates in dorm style hous- ing. These inmates must have no violence in their criminal history. Every inmate works in one of the 25 different job classifications at the facility. In 1984, the medium security facility at the Honor Farm was con- verted to a women's facility to enable female prisoners the same working opportunities as the males. Presently the medium security facility houses all but a few of the female inmates in the Sheriff's custody. The Honor Farm conducts both male and female "boot camp" style programs. These programs, named Project Pride for the males, and Project Discovery for the females, are specialized programs which combine disci- pline, education and treatment for inmates who have lived a life with drug or alcohol addiction. The county receives low cost quality work from inmates housed at the Honor Farm. In addition, through its education programs and work ethic, the Honor Farm returns to society an inmate who is less likely to be a repeat offender. The Sheriffs Honor Farm opera- tion is one of the most successful pig op- erations in the state. It is the largestpork production farm in Southern California. This state of the art breedingprogram has produced award winning genetics which translates to low fat, high yield pork. Three separate studies over the last ten years have verified the.farm's cost per pound of pork is 30 to 50 percent lower than could be purchased. Lt. Mark Ball The Court Services Bureau, under the leadership of Commander Merwyn Dowd, oper- ates out of the Ventura Hall of Justice and the Simi Valley Courthouse. This bureau strives to maintain a safe environment where conflicts can be resolved and the rules of society can be enforced. The bureau is divided into three functional units which are supervised by Lieutenant Joe Funchess. COURT OPERATION Court Operation provides bailiffs and courtroom security for twelve Municipal Courts, 15 Superior Courts, and three Court Commissioners at the Ventura Hall of Justice and the Simi Valley Courthouse. These security services included the IIII III II�I� supervision of 40,095 in -custody defendants and the han- dling of several high profile trials in 1994. INMATE MOVEMENT The Inmate Movement Unit has the responsibility for the movement of all inmates between courts, county facilities, hospitals and state correctional facilities. To com- plete this task, inmate movement is divided into a Trans- portation Detail and a Hall of Justice Holding Detail. This past year the Transportation Detail moved 23,063 inmates over 179,519 miles. During the same year, the Hall of Justice Holding Detail delivered 40,095 in -custody defen- dants to court and received 1,182 persons remanded to the custody of the Sheriff. Lt. Joe Funchess Melinda Johnson Presiding Judge of the Superior Court John Smiley Presiding Judge of the Municipal Court CIVII,/LEVY OPERATION The Civil/Levy Operation is responsible for performing the highly technical and specialized civil and levy obligations of the Sheriff. The operation is responsible for the service of all civil and criminal jurisdictional process, civil writs and orders requir- ing enforcement delivered to the Sheriff. In 1994, the Civil Of- fice receipted $4,366,607 in funds to be distributed as required for payment to judgement creditors, for storage and other ser- vice providers, and fees. Of this sum, $420,374 was paid into the County General Fund as service fees. The Civil Field Detail is responsible for the seizure of personal property, levying on the assets of going businesses, evictions of tenants, levying and sell- ing real property, and the service of civil bench warrants. bill Flown I =01 11411111111111 ........... I V t1he Support Services Division, under the direction of Chief Deputy Richard Rodriguez, provides many and varied services and support to the department as a whole. Within this division resides the responsi- bility of internal affairs investigations, personnel services, psychological ser- vices and the management of the Information Services Bureau which includes Sheriff's Records, Crime Analysis and Computer/Electronic Systems. INTERNAL AFFAIRS Under the direction of Lieutenant William Edwards, the Internal Affairs Unit's responsibilities are dictated by state statute and require the Sheriff's Department to investigate all citizen's complaints filed against department per- sonnel. Policies and procedures of the department also authorize this unit to initiate administrative investigations, for good cause, from sources received from other than citizen reports. Internal Affairs is the department's only formal inspection unit. All inves- tigations receive a formal disposition: Exonerated, Unfounded, Sustained, Not Sustained or Abated. Dispositions may include recommendations for training, changes to policies and procedures, and/or formal discipline. PERSONNEL SERVICES Because of the nature of law enforcement and the absolute requirement of public trust, prospective employees must undergo a rigorous screening and testing process. This process observes the recommendations of the Commis- sion on Peace Officers Standards and Training in Sacramento, as well as all other legal mandates. Recognized as one of the most stringent hiring pro- Lt. Bill Edwards Manager/Personnel Services Dave Robertson cesses in the state, Deputy Sheriff Trainee applicants must successfully com- plete an initial screening process consisting of a written examination, physi- cal agility test and oral interviews. Only then is an in-depth background investigation conducted which includes psychological testing, stringent medi- cal examination and a polygraph examination. Personnel Services are un- der the direction of Dave Robertson. Psychological Services, provided by Dr. Randolph Nutter, are avail- able to all department employees. Critical for employment purposes, all prospective Deputy Sheriff Trainee applicants and specific non -sworn job candidates are evaluated through a pre -employment psychological screen- ing process. (Above top left, middle and bottom left.) Sheriffs Personnel staff. (Top right.) Checking warrants in the Records Department. Psychologist Dr. Randolph Nutter INFORMATION SERVICES. The Information Services Bureau, managed by Lieutenant Lary Reynolds, is charged with a combination of both direct and indirect responsibilities for this department's information, communi- cation, and computerized services. Responsibilities include: analysis of both crime and other administrative information, the management of de- partmental records, statistical reporting, radio communications telephone systems, personal computer networks, and mainframe systems. Most of this unit's effort is spent diligently working behind the scenes to provide the support needed by patrol officers, detectives, and adminis- trators. The ultimate goal is to effectively deliver the protection and ser- vice expected by the community and demanded of ourselves. This bureau is divided into three main units: Crime Analysis & Deci- sion Support, Records & Licensing, and Computer & Electronic Systems. CRIME ANALYSIS & DECISION SUPPORT. Directed by Analysis Man- ager Vern Cook, this unit is responsible for the collecting and computer entry of data from all Sheriff's components. It then converts the data into both information and recommendations that are used for: administrative decision making, planning, criminal investigations, and crime prevention strategies. This unit applies research methodology, statistics, data process- ing and product analysis to a myriad of local law enforcement problems. This unit manages over 50 major law enforcement databases and 150 small specialty databases in support of the department's management and deployment resources. It also manages Rapid -Text (court reporter transcription of criminal and administrative interviews), data entry, and statistical reporting to both the state and federal governments. This unit is staffed with three full-time and eight part-time employees. RECORDS. Under the supervision of Records Supervisor Mary Myatt, this 21 person unit provides all law enforcement agencies in Ventura County with a central repository of criminal records. It prepares complaints and provides criminal reports to both detectives and the courts. Additionally, this 24-hour per day, 7-day per week operation maintains the countywide automated Wants/Warrants System which contains over 93,000 warrants on individuals, and formal probation conditions on those persons convicted of crimes within this county. It also operates our interface with both the state and federal systems for teletypes, wanted persons, stolen vehicles/ vessels, stolen property, criminal histories, and driver/vehicle licensing information. Lt. Lary Reynolds Harry Allen Sr. Office Systems Coordinator Recently, a high-tech laser -disc imaging system was installed to deal with the storage problems associated with the huge quantity of reports received and processed by this unit. This is a first step toward the goal of creating a paperless records system. Livescan fingerprinting and digital photo -imaging are scheduled for installation, with mobile data communication looming on the horizon. The Licensing & Registration Section of this unit processes business and special event licenses, gun registrations, required criminal offender registrations, and provides fingerprint services. COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. This unit is headed by Systems Adminis- trator Harry Allen who has responsibility for this department's computer network systems. Also assigned are four person- nel from the Information Systems Depart- ment, two of which provide maintenance and support for mainframe computer ap- plications, and two who are on special assignment to create a new modern War- rants, Wanted Persons & Gang System. Estella Nava (l) and Mary Myatt, Supervising Clerk Bob Riggs Sheriff's Business Office Manager The Sheriffs Department, like all other government entities has had to manage dwindling fiscal resources over the past several years. The Business Office, with a staff of 13, is respon- sible for processing all departmental fiscal transactions and is critical to the orderly operation of the organization. Business Office responsibilities include processing all purchase requi- sitions, accounts receivable, inmate ac- counts, inmate welfare and inmate com- missary accounting. Additional respon- sibilities include processing payroll transactions for over 1,200 employees, Final Budget, FY 1994-95 (in thousands) West County Police S4 $30,443.6 (30.Y Administration $1,057.7 (1.1%) East County Police Services 3.8 (17.4%) Sheriff's Business Office Staff development and administration of the Sheriffs Department's $101 million budget with revenues over $53 million. They are also responsible for an additional $5 million per year in trust fund activities. This bureau also administers the department's con- tract law enforcement methodology and provides fiscal man - Support Services agement and billing for the cities of Thousand Oaks, $6,683.8 (6.7%) Camarillo, Moorpark, Fillmore and Ojai, as well as many contracts with schools and special districts. Law enforce- ment contract revenue will exceed $18 million in fiscal year 1994-1995. Business Office staff assist in disaster planning and are responsible for tracking of time and materials costs, and per- form procurement duties during emergencies or incidents. Nineteen ninety-four had the low- est reported crime rate in the last 22 years on the strength of patrol narcotic arrests and predictable decreases in property crimes. The strategy of putting two deputy patrols on the street had a measurable effect on deputy initiated contacts (up), arrests (up & up) and the Sheriff's long term and continuing goal of reducing crime. Street level narcotic arrests by pa- trol deputies were up 50.6% department wide. An average of five narcotic suspects were arrested a day in 1993, seven a day in 1994. Predictably, residential burglary was down 13.4%; commercial burglary was down 23.4%; vehicle burglary was up 3.6% —every 24 hours three vehicles were burglarized (see graph at right). Sheriff Patrol Responsibility Central Unincorn—fated 6.9% West Unincorporated 14.4% 4 •,j h y 0 2 1 0 East Moorpark Fillmore Unincorporated 8.9% 4.2% 8.7% Unincorporated Area and Contract Cities Ojai .6% Camarillo 18.4% 1994 Crime Briefings 1994 Yearly Monthly Weekly Violent Crime 836 70 16 Property Crime 6,457 538 124 Part I Crime 7,293 608 140 Demand for Deputies 101,925 8,494 1,960 Emergency Demand 6,073 506 117 Felony Arrests 3,202 267 62 Misdemeanor Arrests 10,001 833 192 Juvenile Arrests 2,300 192 44 Citations 32,351 2,696 622 Field Interviews 30,033 2,503 578 Deputy Initiated Contacts 194 77,887 6,491 1,498 Deputy Initiated Contacts '93 68,568 5,714 1,319 (UP 14%) 120 Requests For Deputies 100 6o x ° 40 20 0 Daily 2.3 18 20 279 17 9 27 6 89 82 213 188 Seven out of ten violent crimes are ag- gravated assault. In March of 1994, a new law required mandatory reporting of domes- tic incidents that fall short of a crime. Since that time, the reporting of these incidents has risen 150%. The crime of domestic as- sault (273.5PQ is up 47% —an additional 246 assaults. Vern Cook, Manager, Analysis Decision Support Group and Stacie Snow �liaw) to assist in the event or an emergency. liaw s are usea to augment local government's capabilities. The OES has the responsibility of registration and administrative tracking of all DSW's and works with three different classes: Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES), Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART) and Sheriff's Search and Rescue. These groups are activated and coordinated through the OES. Presently, there are over 400 registered RACES members who have assisted in numerous exercises and actual disasters. In fact, during 1994, RACES donated more than 2,500 hours of volunteer time for the October fires and the Northridge earth- quake. DART teams have also been used in the emergency management organization during the 1993 fires, Northridge earth- quake and floods. DART teams come from community spon- sored organizations in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Channel Islands and Piru. (1-0 Jackie Hull, Dale Carnathan, Jay Bayman and Wendy Haddock —Manager, OES The Training Bureau, under the direction of Lieu- tenant Christopher Godfrey, is responsible for the train- ing of law enforcement recruits at the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center. This tri-county regional academy is accredited by California's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). The acad- emy has received high praise from the Commission and has been sought for recruit training by agencies outside the tri-counties region. This academy is consis- tently rated at or near the top against approximately 37 police academies in the state. Following successful completion of all back- ground phases, Deputy Sheriff Trainees are employed and placed into this 23 week training program where they receive intensive POST certified training. The cur- riculum and testing is performance based and graded by POST. Historically, only 10 out of every 100 applicants who start the hiring process make it all the way to graduation from the academy. Those that graduate are appointed Deputy Sher- iffs and begin a one year probation. This bureau also handles a wide range of in- service training for all Sheriff's personnel and is responsible for the deployment of Reserve Depu- ties for the East and West County Patrol Divisions. Lt. Chris Godfrey The Sheriff's Department is fortunate to have at its dis- posal a cadre of dedicated and multitalented volunteers. These individuals donate hundreds of hours of their time to this de- partment and the citizens of Ventura County annually. Their only reward is knowing their efforts are needed and appreci- ated. This annual report recognizes the valuable partnership this department enjoys with it's volunteers. We salute their dedi- cation and recognize the valuable contribution they make to a safer Ventura County. The Reserve Deputy Sheriff Program regularly places trained reserve deputies in patrol cars alongside regular deputies in order to provide a higher level of service than would otherwise be possible. The volunteer Search and Rescue teams have enabled hun- dreds of lost or injured campers, hunters and hikers to find help when it was most needed. The Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART) have worked long and hard in times such as the recent Northridge earthquake and the flooding which occurred in 1992 and 1994. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) volunteers assist in communications during emergency and disaster conditions when regular communication has been interrupted or lessened. Additionally, the Detention Services Division of the Sheriff's Department also enjoys a high level of volunteer support. There 1994 Volunteer Hours Organization Hours Donated Est. Savings COMBINED CO. DART TEAMS 3,135 COMBINED POLICE EXPLORER 4,606 OJAI SENIOR PATROL 2,709 MOORPARK RESOURCE CENTER 932 CAMARILLO CITIZEN'S PATROL 1,000 are over 500 reading tutors, substance abuse counselors and religious volunteers who work with regular staff to form efficient and effective educa- tional opportunities for in- mates. There are also other vol- unteer groups working within the individual city jurisdictions serviced by the department. These include programs for youth such as the Police Ex- plorer groups under the joint direction of the Boy Scouts and the Sheriff's Department, the City of Ojai's Senior Patrol, the City of Camarillo Citizen's Pa- trol, the City of Moorpark Re- source Center Volunteers and the City of Thousand Oaks Citizen Academy. A sincere thank you goes out to each and every volun- teer and an acknowledgment that, without them, this department's job would be a great deal more difficult. (Top and bottom) Canine Unit (bottom) Bomb Squad (top) SWAT Team (top) Mounted Patrol (right) West Co. Property Room The individuals whose pictures appear on this page were instrumental in the publication of this annual report. Each of them volunteered their time and talent in creating an interesting and visually accurate representation of this department. Glenn Grossman, a businessman and resident of the City of Moorpark, took many hours from his busy schedule to photo- graph the Sheriff's Academy (including back cover), the Air Unit and City of Camarillo patrol operations. Glenn graduated from California State University at Northridge with a degree in busi- ness administration. His photographic efforts began when his son was born in 1969. Glenn's experience as a photographer of law enforcement personnel and enforcement situations is exten- sive. He has worked with the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department as well as other state and federal agencies. His photographic credits also include many beautiful and unique wildlife photographs from around the world. Ray Brown. "The world is my studio", says this Thousand Oaks photographer, who specializes in depicting real people doing real things in their everyday lives. Ray graduated from the Uni- versity of Illinois with a degree in electronics and worked in that field until becoming a professional photographer in 1970. Ray has been active in civic activities for many years. In 1964 he founded the first teen employment service in Thousand Oaks and began another volunteer group, the Conejo Hotline, serving Glen Grossman Forrest Frields primarily teens, in 1969. His photographs in this report con- cern the Custody Division and the Canine Unit. Forrest Frields, whose studio, "Photography by Forrest", is located in the City of Thousand Oaks, was generous with his time and served as the important link with other photogra- phers who helped with the project. His knowledge of the "pho- tographic community" was invaluable. Forrest graduated from Saint Mary's University with a degree in chemistry and began his photographic career in 1973. He is a long time resident of Thousand Oaks, a graduate of the first Citizen Academy, and very active in civic affairs. Forrest's photographs appear within the West and East County Police Services Divisions. Richard Billings, whose photo was not available, is respon- sible for the pictures of the City of Ojai, where he maintains a studio. Mark Thompson painted the portrait of Sheriff Carpenter which appears at the front of this report. He is a native Califor- nian and has resided in Ventura for six years. He has attended various art schools with a strong emphasis in portrait painting. He has just completed studies under Karen Taylor in forensic artistry. Mark's creative ability will beofconsiderable value to law enforcement. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of many individu- als in the production of this book, including: Sgt. Jean Edwards (Editor, Art Direction); John Houde (Layout, Design); Sgt. Bill Flannigan (portrait photos, Todd Road aerials); Bill Johnson (processing); Grapbic Traffic (pre press). Printed by Herald Printing. Mark Thompson Ray Brown 0 V "we wzu not auow our community to Become twe so many others. we will protect ourselves with the best equipment, the most effective training and the finest people." —Sheriff Larry Carpe ig