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OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Enhanced Abatement Efforts Planned for Ormond Beach |
| DATE/TIME: | August 19, 2019 |
| LOCATION: | Ormond Beach, City of Oxnard |
| PREPARED BY: | Assistant Chief Eric S. Sonstegard |
| CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: | Assistant Chief Eric S. Sonstegard
805-990-1079 eric.sonstegard@oxnardpd.org |
DETAILS:
Oxnard Police Department officers, with assistance from the Port Hueneme Police Department and the Oxnard Fire Department, have begun contacting numerous individuals in and around the beach dunes at Ormond Beach. This is part of an effort to address the escalating problem of individuals camping in the area. While the Oxnard Municipal Code expressly prohibits camping on Ormond Beach, numerous individuals have set up encampments.
This morning, the individuals were advised that they would no longer be allowed to camp at Ormond Beach. Each of the approximately thirty (30) encampments were posted with flyers indicating the ordinance violations and instructions for leaving the area.
Representatives from the Oxnard Housing Department and Community Action for Ventura County were also present to provide alternative resources and services for those who wish to utilize them. Staff from the City of Oxnard’s Environmental Resources (ER) Division were on scene to evaluate the area. ER personnel will be working closely with the Police Department in the coming days to clean up the encampments at the beach.
Comments from Police Chief Scott Whitney-
“This morning’s work will be part of a sustained effort to ensure this area gets cleaned up and is protected. We are committed to enforcing the existing ordinances that are intended to protect endangered areas around our beach. There are never enough resources for all of the demands placed on our homeless liaison officers and it took us a couple weeks to coordinate adequate staffing.”
Chief Whitney added, “We understand the negative impacts this has on the surrounding neighborhoods. The City of Oxnard will continue to work with Port Hueneme and our other city partners to mitigate these impacts.”
Please see the attached photos taken this morning.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 8/19/2019 3:00 p.m.
