Administrative Services

Jason Benites

Jason Benites joined the Oxnard Police Department in 1993, after graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles. During his career as a Police Officer he has worked in the Patrol Division, and served as a Field Training Officer, bicycle officer, and in 1997 was one of three officers who opened a community storefront in Downtown Oxnard. Upon his promotion to Senior Police Officer in 1999 he served as a Beat Coordinator, and was later assigned to detectives until his promotion to Sergeant in March of 2001. Jason returned to the Field Services Bureau as a patrol Sergeant before supervising detectives in the Oxnard Violent Crimes Task Force, a multijurisdictional team that partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Upon his promotion to Commander in December of 2003, Jason returned to the Field Services Bureau as one of four Watch Commanders. He played a role in developing the Neighborhood Policing Strategy, a staffing plan whose purpose is to further strengthen the Oxnard Police Department's community policing philosophy. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in December of 2006, and is a 2008 graduate of the Command College.

David Keith

David Keith is a 21-year veteran of the Oxnard Police Department. He is a nationally known expert on crime prevention and has spoken on that topic to more than 2,000 groups in 29 states in the U.S. David earned an MBA degree from California Lutheran University in 1989. Locally, he has produced more than 1,000 crime prevention television programs in Ventura County and has appeared many times on national television including programs with Walter Cronkite and Sam Donaldson. David has been very instrumental in creating and managing Oxnard’s nationally known Crime Prevention program. This program has helped reduce the crime rate in Oxnard by nearly 60% on a per capita basis since 1992. His work in crime prevention was recognized at a White House reception in 1997. Currently he serves as the official spokesperson for the Oxnard Police Department.

Sylvia Paniagua

Sylvia Paniagua joined the Oxnard Police Department in May 1982 in the department’s word processing unit. She was promoted to Administrative Services Supervisor in 1986, overseeing the word processing and detective reception areas. In 1996 she was promoted to Records Manager. Sylvia currently manages the department’s Property and Evidence Unit, Records Unit and Word Processing and Data Entry Unit. Sylvia has an A.S. Degree in Business Administration from Oxnard College, a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of LaVerne, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University at Northridge.

Eric Sonstegard

Commander Sonstegard has been with the Oxnard Police Department since 1996 after spending almost three years with the Los Angeles School District Police Department. He has previously served as a patrol officer, reserve field training officer, bike team member, K-9 handler, and beat coordinator. From 2003 to 2006, he was the sergeant of the Oxnard Violent Crimes Task Force (OVCTF) before serving as the department’s training sergeant. He holds a B.S. degree in Administration of Justice from California Lutheran University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the P.O.S.T. Management Course. He was born and raised in Ventura County and has three children with his wife, Carrie, who is a kindergarten teacher. He is a member of the Oxnard Sunrise Rotary Club and a longtime supporter of the Oxnard P.A.L. program.

Keith Brooks

Keith brings eighteen years of engineering, scientific research and technology management gathered from working in a broad field including Fortune 500 America, technology startups and his Bachelor of Science degree earned at San Diego State University. As the IT manager, he oversees the day-to-day tasks that include the City's 911 computer systems, in-car computers and the hundreds of other computers, printers and networking equipment found in any large, highly-technical environment. Keith leads his team in focusing on modernizing the department's technology, integrating disparate databases and developing technical solutions that enable citizens, officers and support staff to be safer and more effective members of their community.

Danah Palmer

Danah Palmer has worked for the Oxnard Police/Fire Communications Center since 2005. She began her career at the Eureka Police Department as a Dispatcher and Dispatch Supervisor. She came to Oxnard as the Communications Training Coordinator and was recently promoted to Communications Manager. She has her B.A. in Journalism from Humboldt State University and a partially completed Masters in Emergency Management. She completed the POST Master Instructor Development Program in 2005 and created a Tactical Dispatch Update class for the state. Danah is an Emergency Number Professional and a member of Cal NENA. She has taught classes for Public Safety Dispatchers throughout the country including the University of Maryland, the 2008 National APCO Conference and the 2008 National NENA conference. She has been a recipient of the Chiefs Award of Excellence and was the 2007 CPRA Southern California Supervisor of the Year.