On January 19, 2012, the Foundation held its first annual "Lunch With the Sheriff" at North Ranch Country Club. The 150 people in attendance listened to Sheriff Dean talk about the Sheriff's Office, the Department’s needs for the year ahead and the contributions from the Sheriff’s Foundation.
Sheriff Dean reported, “One of the department’s big challenges is the drug trade. It is growing everywhere, and for the Southern California region, we were the No. 1 agency for seizures of narcotics and marijuana plants. We arrested nine people, most of them Mexican nationals that the cartels paid to come up here to grow the plants; guns and illegal money come along with them.” The Sheriff went on to explain that the areas where the plants are grown are devastated for years to come because the illegal fertilizer used contaminates the soil and the water. Garbage and poached animal remains litter the sights of the encampments disrupting the natural order of things. “Heroin use is increasing in the east county and the task force made numerous arrests, seizing 1,800 grams of heroin, 25 weapons and $2.6 million in cash in 2011.” The seized money will be used to pay for more narcotics enforcement, training and youth education programs.
The Sheriff said crowded county jails would continue to be a challenge this year. The transfer of inmates from state prisons to local agencies is putting pressure on the jail system and it is predicted that our jails will be at maximum capacity within three months. “It’s a difficult situation and we’re having to be creative. We have to make do with what we have. We are working on electronic monitoring programs so that we might release some people from custody,” Dean said.
Sheriff Dean also talked about the great work of some of the other Departments including the Bomb Squad, the Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Lab.
He told the Foundation members that their contributions make a difference and he thanked them for their support in 2011. The guests viewed a short video of officers training on the new Force Option Simulator purchased by the Foundation. Deputy Delpit was in attendance with K9 Dano, one of the canines who was fitted for a new protective vest and sent to advanced tracking school with funds from the Foundation.
The afternoon was informative fun, and delicious, thanks to the crew at North Ranch Country Club and the specially designed cupcakes from Sweets Surrender.
Thank you to our generous sponsors and Foundation members for their continued support of the Foundation as we strive to achieve our goal of assisting the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office with its financial and outreach needs.
We hope to see you next year at our annual luncheon.
CSI:Y - It's a Wrap!
It was a crime scene right out of the movies. On October 1, 2011 at Las Posas Country Club 230 guests looked for clues to solve the identities of the chalk victims behind the crime scene tape at the entrance to the CSI:Y event. The evening was a celebration of Sheriff Geoff Dean’s first year in office and proceeds went to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation. People from across the county gathered for wine tasting, mystery solving, dinner and dancing. Members from various Sheriff’s Departments were on hand to talk about the role they play in keeping Ventura County safe. The real CSI department helped stage the scene and answer questions about the things you see on TV. The Bomb Squad robot came out to greet the guest and the 200 lb. protective suit was on display with Sgt. Bob Garcia available to explain the equipment. Members of the SWAT Team, the Search and Rescue Team and the K9 unit were also present to describe their jobs and share some of their equipment with the guests.
The evening was a financial success and the money raised will go to the K9 unit to pay for advanced tracking school for the dogs and their handlers as well as protective vests for the two K9s who were still in need. The Dive Search and Rescue Team will purchase a new robotic arm for the Remotely Operated Vehicle they use in their deep-water rescue and recovery missions, and the SWAT Team will receive funds to purchase needed medical supplies. Additional monies will go to other programs and urgently needed equipment for the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Foundation also has an endowment fund so that we may support the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office into the future, a percentage of donations raised will be applied to the fund.
Thank you to all our generous sponsors, donors and guests.
"The Golf Course That Cares," Tierra Rejada
The golf course that cares," Tierra Rejada, gave a very generous donation to the Foundation to kick off their new Community Outreach Program. Owner, Ted Kruger said "Every round of golf played at our course helps a good cause and we are proud to support the Ventura County Sheriff's Foundation as one of the first recipients in our program". Thousand Oaks Police Chief, Commander Jeff Matson was there with Moorpark Police Chief, Captain Ron Nelson to support the Foundation as Board President Amy Fukutomi and Treasurer Christina Marsden accepted the donation. The outreach program continues throughout 2012 with donations going to other non-profits in Ventura County. Tierra Rejada Golf Course is a public course located in Moorpark.
Department Dedicated Donations at the CSI:Y Event
On October 1 at the Foundation's CSI:Y event we asked our guests to help us support three Department's specific needs. The Departments we supported for the dedicated donations were; K9, SWAT and the Search and RescueDive Team. We would like to say thank you to our very generous donors. We surpassed our goals for both SWAT and Search and Rescue. For the K9 unit we received enough funds to buy the 2 vests for our K9's, so we added the goal of paying the tuition for the advanced tracking training for canines Dano and Rene.
You may choose to support a specific department with your donations by entering the department name in the "Departname Name" field when making a donation. Please click here to donate now.
Thank you for your continued support. To read about other Foundation supported projects, please click here.
The Camarillo Police Department Invites the Community to an Open House
Camarillo is one of the five contract cities where the Ventura County Sheriff's Office provides police services. July 30th the police department/sheriff's office, threw open their doors and invited the community to an open house. As Sheriff Dean welcomed the crowd he said, "Sit on the motorcycles, pet the horses, explore the bomb squad suit and robot! Your tax dollars pay for these things to help us keep you safe." And over 500 people did just that.
It was a perfect sunny day, and almost every part of the department was represented; a CSI display, a jail bus, the SWAT team and their armored vehicle, the Sheriff's Posse, kid print, and much more. The foundation team was on site to do a little community outreach with t-shirts, hats and information on how the community can help the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Dean, Assistant Sheriff John Crombach, Commander Steve DeCesari, and Captain Bruce Macedo joined Supervisor Kathy Long and Mayor Mike Morgan as they visited with the crowds, answering questions and taking pictures.
All in attendance went away with a better understanding of "their" police department.
Search and Rescue Hiking Plan
As the the summer months approach and temperatures rise, the trails and backcountry of Ventura County will become a popular destination for visitors. While the backcountry is a beautiful place, it can also become dangerous to hikers who are not properly prepared for their adventure.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all visitors to the backcountry that there are several steps they can take to help make the trip a safer outing. To assist with pre-trip planning, the Sheriff’s Office has provided a “Hiking Plan” document that can be completed prior to any backcountry adventure. The hiking plan includes; name(s), starting point, vehicle description, destination, equipment list, length of trip, and emergency contact information. Use the link below to downlad and complete the form.
Once completed, the hiking plan should be given to a family member or friend prior to departing on your trip. In case of emergency, the hiking plan is a useful tool for Search and Rescue members to use when attempting to locate injured or lost subjects in a large geographical area.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Foundation is happy to introduce our two new members to the Foundation Board, Ron Polanski and Bill Slaughter. We look forward to working with them and appreciate their service.
Ron Polanski is the senior partner of the Polanski Bourne Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. He has been a Financial Advisor since 1975, when he began his career with Dean Witter. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2009, he spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley. Ron believes in giving back to his community. Past activities include: past-president and board member of Kiwanis International of the Conejo; founding member of the Alliance for the Arts; 4 years as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Thousand Oaks; member of the Hospice of the Conejo board of directors; past member – Thousand Oaks Rotary club; and six years on the Foundation Board of CSU-Channel Islands including five years as the chair of the Finance Committee. He lives in the Santa Rosa Valley area of Camarillo with his wife Betsy and their two dogs; Maxwell and Honeybear. He enjoys golf, fly-fishing, sailing and barbequing.
Raised in Santa Paula, Bill Slaughter currently resides in the Upper Ojai area with his wife, Rain Perry, and his two children. Mr. Slaughter has been a trial attorney for over 30 years and is a founding partner of the law firm Procter, Slaughter & Reagan, LLP in Ventura, California. He has volunteered his time over the years to a variety of causes including the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Santa Paula Boys and Girls Club, and is a former member of the Santa Paula Rotary Club. A life-long climber and outdoor sports enthusiast, Mr. Slaughter has participated since the mid-1980s as a member of the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team. It is a part of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. He has served as the Captain of this mountain rescue team for the last 10 years. In that capacity, he participates in and manages Search and Rescue activities in Ventura County and across California.
We welcome Ron and Bill and look forward to working with them into the future.
Sheriff Dean's First 100 Days
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation brings you an interview with Sheriff Geoff Dean in commemoration of his first 100 days in office. Sheriff Dean was sworn in January 3, 2011 after winning the first contested election in 36 years.
In his interview with Maria Sanchez, Sheriff Dean discusses budget cuts, his new Executive staff, the brave people who work in the Department and how proud he is to serve the people of Ventura County.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation assists the Sheriff’s Department by providing financial support for equipment and programs not covered in the Department’s budget. We also promote civic spirit and awareness in support of law enforcement and public safety. We hope you will join us in our mission by becoming a member or a donor. For more information on the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation, or to become a member, please visit; www.VCSheriffsFoundation.org, we look forward to welcoming you to the team.
Enjoy the interview with Sheriff Geoff Dean:
Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Teams and the Helicopter Aviation Unit, Rescue a Large Group of Hikers Lost During Ventura County’s Last Storms Reported by Captain Dave Kenney
On 03/20/2011, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office began receiving calls of overdue hikers in the Ventura County backcountry. It was quickly determined that many of the missing were from a group called the “Los Padres Sierra Club.” on an overnight camping trip in the Los Padres National Forest. The number of missing club members was believed to be around 20 to 30 members.
As the information developed further, it was learned that this group of hikers set out into the forest on Saturday morning, 03/19/2011, in the face of the on-coming storm. The club then split into three separate groups, with each group being led by a Sierra Club “team leader” and each group hiking in a different area of the forest. The information as to exactly where these three groups planned to hike was limited. According to the reporting parties, their plan was to spend the night in the mountains and then hike out Sunday morning.
Sheriff’s personnel were able to obtain vehicle information from concerned family members, so Search and Rescue (SAR) resources were immediately deployed to try and locate the missing vehicles at the various campgrounds and/or trailheads that dot the area. A Sheriff’s helicopter was also dispatched to assist with the search, however the helicopter was unable to access the mountain areas due to the high winds, rain and poor visibility generated from the powerful storm system.
The Upper Ojai Mountain Rescue Team was able to locate several vehicles believed to belong to the Sierra Club hiking parties in the areas of Lion’s Camp and Potrero John. The SAR Team checked the immediate area around these locations, however they were unable to hike down the trails due to swollen and treacherous water crossings that had developed due to the heavy rains and large amount of storm run off. As a result, and due to safety concerns, the decision was made to suspend further rescue operations until the next morning.
As the Ojai SAR Team was leaving the area, the SAR Team Captain (Bill Slaughter) noticed some lights coming from a ridge top. The area where the lights were coming from was on top of a steep cliff. Believing the lights to be associated with some of the missing Sierra Club hikers, a ground based search and rescue operation was immediately initiated. Members of the East Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to assist the Ojai SAR Team with the rescue. SAR members were given assignments to try and access the area on foot. At about 11:00 PM, SAR members made contact with (4) four of the missing Sierra Club members – all of whom were in a very precarious situation. The four members explained that they had experienced heavy rains all night on Saturday night, so they set out first thing Sunday morning to try and make it out of the backcountry. As they tried to hike out, the four individuals found that they were no longer able to cross the water crossings, so they abandoned their tents and backpacks and attempted to scale a ridgeline to make it to Hwy 33. They soon became very tired and very cold.
The Ojai and East Valley SAR Teams had to rig safety lines across the water crossings, as well as a waterfall, and then secure each individual in a harness system in order to pull them safely across the dangerous water and steep terrain. All four Sierra Club members were suffering from exposure to the cold and were subsequently transported by ambulance to a local hospital. During the rescue efforts, one SAR member received minor injuries that required later treatment at a local Urgent Care facility. The rescue efforts to locate the remaining members of the Sierra Club were suspended to the following morning.
On Monday morning, 03/21/2011, the Sheriff’s helicopter launched at 6:45 AM, in hopes of locating the remaining members of the Sierra Club. A second group of Sierra Club members were found in the Middle Lions Camp area. These individuals were also unable to cross the water crossings that had swollen to dangerous levels due to the storm. The helicopter crew was able to land and load (9) nine individuals onto the helicopter, and then flew them out of danger and back to their cars. No injuries were reported in this second group. The Sheriff’s Helicopter then located the last group of Sierra Club members in the area of Middle Matillija. This group was also trapped by the swollen water crossings. The helicopter crew was not able to land, therefore 100 ft. hoist rescues had to be performed on each one of these (6) six individuals. The Sheriff’s Aviation Unit was then able to determine that all of the missing Sierra Club members were accounted for.
In total, (19) nineteen Sierra Club members were rescued, requiring over 239 man-hours and 3.6 helicopter hours.
When storms move through our area, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Aviation-Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind all residents of the dangers that accompany this type of weather.
Please refrain from entering the backcountry until after the storms have long passed.
As the local mountains and hillsides reach their saturation points, the chances for flash floods, mudslides, and large amounts of storm run-off in the local drainage channels increases dramatically.
Always notify a friend or loved one of your plans and location when entering the wilderness. If you deviate from your hiking plan, be advised that if no one knows where you are it is going to seriously delay emergency response in the event you need help.
Do not attempt to cross moving water - either on foot or in vehicles. Normally shallow water crossings become very hazardous during heavy rains as the water flows increase suddenly and without warning.
The increased water flows in the local drainage channels can be very attractive and luring to children and young adults. A simple slip and fall into this fast moving water often proves to be fatal, even to the best of swimmers. Please ensure that your children are admonished on the dangers of the fast moving water and told not enter any of these areas.
Increased surf activity at the local beaches is another hazard that draws people to the shoreline to view the large waves and heavy surf. Please do not enter the water or venture out onto the jetties or rocks along the local beaches. Large waves are unpredictable and past incidents have taught us that getting washed into the heavy surf often proves to be fatal, even to the best of swimmers.
Welcome Sheriff Geoff Dean
On January 3, 2011 the 19th Sheriff of Ventura County was sworn into office. In front of a crowd of over 500 well wishers including former Sheriffs, John Gillespie, Larry Carpenter and Bob Brooks, Sheriff Geoff Dean took the oath of office.
Geoff Dean is a lifetime resident of California. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Simi Valley, he has lived in Camarillo for the past 18 years. Geoff is a 32-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Prior to being elected as the 19th Sheriff of Ventura County he commanded three of the four divisions within the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Dean has worked varied assignments throughout the Department including commanding the SWAT Team, Chief of Police for the City of Moorpark and overseeing Internal Affairs.
He is involved in various community activities including Camarillo Noon Time Rotary, the Board of Directors for Casa Pacifica home for abused kids and the American Cancer Society’s Community Council to mention a few. He has been married to his wife Marlene for the past twenty-three years. Marlene is a lifetime Ventura County resident and a mathematics professor. He has two children; Lindsey 22, who is a college senior, and Andy 19, who is a college freshman. Geoff holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University Northridge, a Masters Degree in Management from Cal Poly Pomona and is a graduate of the California State Peace Officers Command College.
Following Sheriff Dean’s swearing in, he in turn, swore in his new Executive Staff, Assistant Sheriff John Crombach and Assistant Sheriff Gary Pentis. For more information on the Executive or Command Staff, please visit www.vcsd.org.
Become a member of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation
Lunch With the Sheriff
We arrested nine people, most of them Mexican nationals that the cartels paid to come up here to grow the plants; guns and illegal money come along with them.” The Sheriff went on to explain that the areas where the plants are grown are devastated for years to come because the illegal fertilizer used contaminates the soil and the water. Garbage and poached animal remains litter the sights of the encampments disrupting the natural order of things. “Heroin use is increasing in the east county and the task force made numerous arrests, seizing 1,800 grams of heroin, 25 weapons and $2.6 million in cash in 2011.” The seized money will be used to pay for more narcotics enforcement, training and youth education programs.
He told the Foundation members that their contributions make a difference and he thanked them for their support in 2011. The guests viewed a short video of officers training on the new Force Option Simulator purchased by the Foundation. Deputy Delpit was in attendance with K9 Dano, one of the canines who was fitted for a new protective vest and sent to advanced tracking school with funds from the Foundation.
It was a crime scene right out of the movies. On October 1, 2011 at Las Posas Country Club 230 guests looked for clues to solve the identities of the chalk victims behind the crime scene tape at the entrance to the CSI:Y event. The evening was a celebration of Sheriff Geoff Dean’s first year in office and proceeds went to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation. People from across the county gathered for wine tasting, mystery solving, dinner and dancing. 
Members from various Sheriff’s Departments were on hand to talk about the role they play in keeping Ventura County safe. The real CSI department helped stage the scene and answer questions about the things you see on TV. The Bomb Squad robot came out to greet the guest and the 200 lb. protective suit was on display with Sgt. Bob Garcia available to explain the equipment. Members of the SWAT Team, the Search and Rescue Team and the K9 unit were also present to describe their jobs and share some of their equipment with the guests.
The evening was a financial success and the money raised will go to the K9 unit to pay for advanced tracking school for the dogs and their handlers as well as protective vests for the two K9s who were still in need. The Dive Search and Rescue Team will purchase a new robotic arm for the Remotely Operated Vehicle they use in their deep-water rescue and recovery missions, and the SWAT Team will receive funds to purchase needed medical supplies. Additional monies will go to other programs and urgently needed equipment for the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Foundation also has an endowment fund so that we may support the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office into the future, a percentage of donations raised will be applied to the fund.
"The Golf Course That Cares," Tierra Rejada
Camarillo is one of the five contract cities where the Ventura County Sheriff's Office provides police services. July 30th the police department/sheriff's office, threw open their doors and invited the community to an open house. As Sheriff Dean welcomed the crowd he said, 
"Sit on the motorcycles, pet the horses, explore the bomb squad suit and robot! Your tax dollars pay for these things to help us keep you safe." And over 500 people did just that.
the Sheriff's Posse, kid print, and much more. The foundation team was on site to do a little community outreach with t-shirts, hats and information on how the community can help the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Dean, Assistant Sheriff John Crombach, Commander Steve DeCesari, and Captain Bruce Macedo joined Supervisor Kathy Long and Mayor Mike Morgan as they visited with the crowds, answering questions and taking pictures. 
On 03/20/2011, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office began receiving calls of overdue hikers in the Ventura County backcountry. It was quickly determined that many of the missing were from a group called the “Los Padres Sierra Club.” on an overnight camping trip in the Los Padres National Forest. The number of missing club members was believed to be around 20 to 30 members. 
Welcome Sheriff Geoff Dean
He is involved in various community activities including Camarillo Noon Time Rotary, the Board of Directors for Casa Pacifica home for abused kids and the American Cancer Society’s Community Council to mention a few. He has been married to his wife Marlene for the past twenty-three years. Marlene is a lifetime Ventura County resident and a mathematics professor. He has two children; Lindsey 22, who is a college senior, and Andy 19, who is a college freshman. Geoff holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University Northridge, a Masters Degree in Management from Cal Poly Pomona and is a graduate of the California State Peace Officers Command College.
