Field Services Bureau

Scott Whitney

Assistant Chief Scott Whitney began his career with the Oxnard Police Department in 1990. With the opening of the Colonia Storefront in 1992, he was assigned to the first storefront in Ventura County. Scott then worked as a narcotics detective before being promoted to sergeant in 1996. As a sergeant, he gained experience as a patrol supervisor, a SWAT supervisor, and as a supervisor in the Special Enforcement Unit.

In 2001, Scott was promoted to the rank of commander where he gained experience as a watch commander and as the Special Operations Commander. He played an integral part in the development of the countywide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT Program). As the Special Operations Commander, he was responsible for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, the Special Enforcement Unit, the Violent Crimes Task Force, the K-9 program, and departmental firearms training. He also managed the Gang Violence Suppression Project and created the Oxnard PRYDE Program.

Scott was promoted to assistant chief in 2006. In his first assignment as an assistant chief, Scott had leadership and administrative responsibility for the Administrative Services Bureau. This bureau included our Communications, Professional Standards, Technology Services, Financial Services and Records/Property divisions.

Scott is currently responsible for the Field Services Bureau. The Field Services Bureau includes the Patrol Division, the Patrol Support Division and the Special Operations Division. Scott was born and raised in Oxnard. He attended Ramona Elementary School, Sierra Linda Elementary School, Fremont Intermediate School and graduated from Oxnard High School. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University Northridge.

Scott works with many community-based organizations and currently serves as an ex-officio director for the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, as an advisory board member for the Ventura County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, as a board member for Interface Children and Family Services and is on the executive committee of the Ventura County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. He received the 2010 El Concilio, Latino Leadership President’s Award for his work with local youth.

Tom Chronister

Commander Chronister began his career as an Oxnard police officer in 1983. Tom previously served as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer and investigator, K-9 officer, and sergeant in both patrol and administrative services. A 1978 graduate from Rio Mesa High School, he holds an Associate of Science from Ventura College, a Bachelor of Science from University of Redlands, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Commander Chronister is a graduate of California's POST Command College, Class 39, and holds the professional designation of Certified Protection Professional (CPP) with ASIS International. He also serves as a security consultant with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Crime Free Business research project. His current assignments include Field Training Program manager and area commander for District 2.

Martin Meyer

Marty Meyer joined the Oxnard Police Department in 1984. He has spent the majority of his career in the Patrol Division but has also served as a Field Training Officer, was a member of the former Field Tactical Unit and worked with the Department's fledgling gang enforcement efforts. He also served as the Beat Coordinator in old Beats 1 and 4. Promoted to sergeant in the early 1990s, Commander Meyer remained in Patrol with collateral assignments in the Field Training, Beat Coordinator, and Peer Support programs. Meyer holds a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Sacramento and is completing his Teaching Credential and Master's Degree at California Lutheran University. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Academy and has taught leadership to City employees. He is currently working with the Chief's Community Council and a private contractor to ensure that racial profiling does not occur in this community.

Robert Cox

Commander Robert Cox began his career with the Oxnard Police Department during 1986. During his career with the Oxnard Police Department he has experience as a patrol officer and Field Training Officer. Prior to his promotion to Sergeant in 1998, he was a detective assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit, during which time he chaired the committee that produced Ventura County’s first child abuse investigative manual for law enforcement and social services agencies. As a sergeant he served as a Patrol Field Supervisor, Traffic Unit Supervisor, and was assigned to the Professional Standards Unit. Commander Cox was assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau at its commander from 2005 through June 2010. During that time he received training from the Backster School of Lie Detection, San Diego, as a polygraph examiner. He is currently assigned as a Watch Commander, the District One Commander, and manages the Oxnard Police Department Bicycle Unit. He possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting from the University of La Verne. He served in the United States Army as a Counterintelligence Agent and received an Honorable Discharge during 1983. Commander Cox is a life member of the California Sexual Assault Investigator’s Association. He holds memberships in the National Polygraph Association, California Association of Polygraph Examiners, California Background Investigators Association, and the California Homicide Investigators Association.

Scott Hebert

Commander Scott Hebert joined the Oxnard Police Department in 1988. His past experience includes working as a patrol officer, SWAT, bicycle team, La Colonia Storefront, and the Honor Guard. Scott was promoted to senior officer in 1995 and worked as a beat coordinator, burglary detective, narcotics investigator, and as assistant team leader for the Special Enforcement Unit/SWAT Team. Promoted to sergeant in 1999, Scott worked as a patrol supervisor, SWAT training sergeant, field training sergeant, and in the Professional Standards Division. In 2005 Scott was promoted to commander and worked as a patrol watch commander until taking over responsibility of the Special Operations Division in November of 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from the University of California Santa Barbara, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University Northridge.

Andrew Salinas

Oxnard Police Officer Andrew Salinas started his career in law enforcement in 1993 as a Reserve Police Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. He began his career with the Oxnard Police Department in 1996 and ascended to the rank of Police Commander in 2010. During his career, Commander Salinas has worked a myriad of assignments which include Storefront Officer, Narcotics Detective, Grant Coordinator, Beat Coordinator, Sexual Assault Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Training Sergeant, and Special Services Sergeant. He is currently assigned as the Day Shift Watch Commander and also oversees District 3. His collateral assignments have included Hostage Negotiator Sergeant on the SWAT Team and Explorer Advisor for POST 9286.

He currently serves as a Board Member for the California Strawberry Festival and is President of the National Latino Peace Officers Association – Ventura County Chapter (NLPOA). He also volunteers for the Humane Society of Ventura County and the Braille Institute of Southern California. He was founder of the Police Activities League Computer Learning Lab and coordinated the Oxnard Police Department Toys for Tots program for over 6 years which served over 15,000 children.

Commander Salinas was awarded the MADD Community Award in 1998 and 1999 and was recipient of the Congressional Merit of Honor for his diligent work on combating drunk driving in 1998. He was also nominated for the Oxnard Police Officer of the Year Award in 2001 and 2002.

Commander Salinas has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Management and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Cal-State Northridge.

Ron Whitney

Ron Whitney has been an officer with the Oxnard Police Department since 1979. During his career as an officer, Ron worked patrol, the field tactical unit and as a narcotics and major crimes detective. Ron’s collateral assignments as an officer included field training officer and the Special Enforcement Team. Ron was promoted to sergeant in 1994, and in addition to patrol has supervised the traffic unit, the youth services unit, and both the Southwinds and Colonia Storefronts. Since 1996 Ron has supervised the officers in the police and fire dive team.

Ron was promoted to commander in mid 2010. Ron holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Los Angeles, and is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Field Services Divisions

Patrol Division

Patrol Support Division

Special Operations Division