OXNARD DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

INCIDENTE:	Oxnard Police Department installs Community Cameras as part of their efforts to curb continued violence
FECHA / HORA:	Abril 21, 2017
UBICACIÓN:	Sierra Linda Barrio Rose Park Neighborhood
PREPARADO POR:	Eric S. Sonstegard, El jefe de policía asistente eric.sonstegard@oxnardpd.org
PERSONA DE CONTACTO e información de contacto:	Eric S. Sonstegard, El jefe de policía asistente (805) 385-7801

DETALLES:

The Oxnard Police Department recently installed the first of a series of Community Cameras in neighborhoods adversely affected by continued gang violence. These Community Cameras, which are housed in overt boxes with “Departamento de Policía de Oxnard” and “La protección de nuestra Comunidad con un servicio excepcional” printed on them, are installed in high pedestrian traffic areas in selected neighborhoods. They provide 24-hour a day video surveillance that investigators are able to monitor and record. The first two Community Cameras have been installed in the Rose Park and Sierra Linda neighborhoods.

Tristemente, the genesis for this program began out of tragedy. En febrero 17, 2014, 24-year old Joshua Van was senselessly shot killed as he walked with friends in the 2000 block of Mariposa Avenue. Joshua, a former basketball player at Rio Mesa High School, had just left the Circle-K market in the Sierra Linda neighborhood when he was confronted by gang members and shot.

Poco después, Cynthia Gonzalez, Joshua’s mother, accompanied by Joshua’s father, Carlos Gonzalez, and sister, Ciara Gonzales, began to be regular attendees at Oxnard City Council meetings. Cynthia would make impassioned pleas each week during public comments for the city to install CCTV cameras as a way to deter future violence. Cynthia was diligent with her comments, often citing public surveillance camera programs in other cities that had been successful deterrents to neighborhood violence. Meanwhile, Oxnard Police Investigators ultimately made arrests of two individuals responsible for the murder of Joshua Van. Their investigation was greatly enhanced by surveillance footage captured inside and outside the Circle K Market. This only made the Gonzalez family more resolute in their quest for CCTV cameras.

Trágicamente, the Gonzalez family would once again be touched by violence in 2016 when 32-year old Christopher Camper was shot and killed less than 1,000 feet from where Joshua was killed. Oxnard Police Investigators arrested the individual responsible for Camper’s murder and were again aided by surveillance footage captured by nearby cameras. Cynthia continued to attend City Council meetings in 2016 and ask for public CCTV cameras.

En el otoño de 2016, inspired by the Gonzales family and having seen similar successes in other cities, the Oxnard Police Department decided to partner with the Gonzalez’s and begin a Community Camera program. The Department earmarked asset forfeiture funds to develop the first two prototypes of what are now called Community Cameras. Cynthia, Carlos, and Ciara attended neighborhood council meetings with Oxnard Police Department staff to help tell the story of Joshua and answer any questions about public surveillance cameras.

The Oxnard Police Department plans to install additional Community Cameras in 2017 in a number of selected neighborhoods. Asistente Jefe Eric S. Sonstegard- “These cameras are one tool in a multi-faceted plan to address continued gang violence. We understand they won’t prevent everything but we believe the presence of video surveillance cameras can have a positive effect on increasing public safety. Their mere presence can act as a powerful crime deterrent and evidence obtained from video gathered can be invaluable in some police investigations.”

FECHA / TIEMPO DE PREPARACIÓN: 4/21/2017 12:00 p.m.

OXNARD DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

INCIDENTE:	Death of recent shooting victim/Recent violence in Oxnard
FECHA / HORA:	Abril 8, 2017
UBICACIÓN:	King Street/Wooley Road
VÍCTIMA:	Angel Ortiz Ramirez, 32-Residente de Oxnard años
PREPARADO POR:	Eric S. Sonstegard, El jefe de policía asistente eric.sonstegard@oxnardpd.org
PERSONA DE CONTACTO e información de contacto:	Alex Arnett, Major Crimes Sergeant alex.arnett @ oxnardpd.org

DETALLES:

La 32 residente de Oxnard años de edad, who was gunned down in the 1000 block of King Street, has died.

The shooting occurred on April 8, 2017, just before 10:00 pm. The Oxnard Police Department responded to the scene after receiving numerous 911 calls of a shooting victim. Oxnard police officers arrived and located the victim, later identified as Angel Ortiz Ramirez, lying in the street. Ramirez was quickly transported to the Ventura County Medical Center by ambulance. Despite lifesaving efforts by the medical staff, Ramirez succumbed to his injury.

Angel Ramirez leaves behind four young children. He was also involved in the community as a little league baseball coach and a youth basketball coach. Investigators are still trying to determine why Ramirez was targeted and why he was killed. Major Crimes Investigators are investigating the shooting as a homicide. If anyone has information or knowledge on the murder of Angel Ortiz Ramirez, please contact Detective Steven Ramirez at (805) 385-7760.

This is Oxnard’s sixth homicide of the year and continues a rash of violent activity that has occurred within the city the last thirty (30) día.

On March 13th, 44-year old Raul Mandujano was shot and killed in the 100 bloquear de Dolores Corte.
On March 27th, 17-year old Luis Rodriguez was shot and killed while he rode his skateboard in the 400 bloque de N. bonita avenida.
On April 12th, 22-year old Andres Rocha was shot and killed while riding his bicycle in the area of Featherstone Street and San Gorgonio Avenue.

Investigators noted that all four (4) of the recent homicides have occurred in the late evening hours after 9:00 p.m. and a majority of them appear to have been gang-related.

While the Oxnard Police Department has continued to investigate these recent homicides, the City of Oxnard continues to experience an uptick in violent crime in several neighborhoods. The Department has been focusing efforts on four neighborhoods in particular: Southwinds, La Colonia, Lemonwood, and Hull/Isleton. While overall Part One crime in Oxnard was down 12.9% through the first quarter of 2017, violent crime increased 3.4% during that time period. These violent crime increases included several robberies and aggravated assaults. One particularly disturbing trend has been a rash of carjackings that occurred in which the suspects were juveniles. Arrests have been made by investigators in these cases, including separate incidents involving 12-year old female and 13-year old male suspects.

Oxnard Police Chief Scott Whitney stated: “We are committed to having extra resources in each of our affected neighborhoods. We have experienced spikes in violent crime in the past and we address them through a combination of increased enforcement and community assistance. When those involved are of such young age, it’s incumbent on all our community partners to come together to find solutions to the violence.”

In response to the recent events, the Oxnard Police Department has deployed extra resources citywide, with emphasis placed upon the affected neighborhoods in an attempt to deter any future violence. Motorcycle officers, bicycle officers, and Neighborhood Policing Team officers are all being deployed this weekend to address specific areas. The Department’s Special Enforcement Unit works seven (7) days a week and continues to focus their efforts in the evening hours to address gang-related issues. Resources from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol have also been assisting, and will be visible in Oxnard this Easter weekend.

Just as importantly, the Oxnard Police Department needs the help and assistance of their community partners to assist in breaking this cycle of violence. The Department has a series of community engagement efforts planned over the next week:

Neighborhood officers will be walking through selected neighborhoods and handing out flyers to residents, requesting their assistance with the recent violence. The Department has developed a new violent crimes hotline where any information related to recent incidents can be called or texted in to (805) 394-8370. Information can also be emailed to investigators at confidential@oxnardpd.org.
The Department will be holding community outreach events at the following locations:
- Miércoles, 19 de abril, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Camino Del Sol Park
- Jueves, April 20th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Hobson Park

Residents are invited to stop by to talk with Oxnard P.D. personnel and learn about community resources available for youth, parents, and families. Additional information will be made available about these events early next week.

Oxnard Police Department personnel will be on local Spanish radio stations on Monday to provide awareness and prevention tips for local parents.

The Oxnard Police Department needs and greatly appreciates the public’s assistance in solving the above cases, and encourages the public to continue to report suspicious activity; it is often the public’s actions that have been of great help in addressing crime.

FECHA / TIEMPO DE PREPARACIÓN: 4/14/2017 2:00 p.m.