Communications Center:
Our Dispatch Center receives all 9-1-1 calls in Ventura. On average, dispatchers handle about 55,000 emergency calls each year and calls are
answered, on average, within five seconds. Contact the 24/7 non-emergency line at 805-650-8010 or connect with the Watch Commander directly at 805-339-4416.
K9 Unit:
Our K9 Unit is currently comprised of three K9 teams assigned to the Patrol so that a K9 team is on-duty seven days a week, providing round the clock service to the community.
Patrol Services:
Officers respond to about 98,000 calls for service each year. Uniformed officers provide patrol services in their specific work area, known as "Beats". Officers work a single beat for one year, giving them a better understanding of each area's unique problems. Ventura has four beats that cover the city from the west to the east.
Patrol Task Force:
The Patrol Task Force was formed to address crime trends and problem areas within the City with the ultimate goal of restorative policing and street outreach with people experiencing homelessness. PTF works closely with Crime Analysis to identify crime trends and relies on patrol officers to help identify problem areas.
Traffic Unit:
Our Traffic Unit and Motor Officers provide proactive enforcement of vehicle code laws using radar, motorcycle patrol, parking enforcement, and community education programs, much of which is paid for by an annual grant with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The Unit also provides professional traffic collision investigations and reconstruction. Team members routinely make recommendations for traffic control improvements.
In addition to traffic enforcement and accident investigation, the Unit enforces parking procedures, tows abandoned vehicles, and processes vehicle impound releases. The Traffic Unit also handles parking ticket payments, traffic collision reports, reporting of abandoned vehicles, and over-sized vehicle permits.
Alcohol Enforcement Unit
Our Alcohol Enforcement Unitoversees all Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licenses and alcohol sales permits within the City of Ventura.
SWAT Team
The primary objective of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) is to save lives. The mission of Ventura's SWAT Team is to provide highly trained personnel for use in incidents where disciplined teamwork, specialized weapons, and tactical skills are needed to resolve high risk law enforcement incidents.
Crisis Intervention Team:
The CIT program is a county-wide collaboration between law enforcement, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness, serving the needs of persons with mental illness in the community we serve. CIT trained officers know how to de-escalate crisis situations, recognize different types of mental illnesses and disabilities, and how to connect the person to the most appropriate resource. When you have a mental health crisis please request a “CIT trained” officer.
Investigations:
Our Investigative Division includes Crime Analysis, Crime Scene Investigations, Court Clerk, the Major Crimes Unit, the Gang Prevention Unit, the Special Victims Unit, the Street Crimes Unit, and the Neighborhood Narcotics Unit.
School Resource Officers:
Our School Resource Officers(SROs) assist students, parents, and staff on Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) campuses and in our community. The SROs' primary function is to protect students, staff, and visitors against violence and crime while fostering a learning environment free of fear. The officers are assigned full-time to Ventura, Buena, Pacific, and Foothill Tech High Schools.
Professional Standards & Development:
Our Professional Standards Unit is responsible for recruitment and hiring, employee relations, background investigations, internal affairs, workers compensation, and audits. They also have responsibility for ensuring background investigations on potential employees are complete and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards. Regular audits of police reports, selected at random, are conducted from the recording of the initial call-for-service to the final disposition.
Records:
Our Records Unit processes reports, keeps crime and arrest statistics, answers non-emergency calls, and processes subpoenas for department employees. "Records" can be reports, citations, field interview cards, or any of a variety of documents written by department employees each year.
Office of Emergency Services:
Our Emergency Services Manager, Mack Douglass, is responsible for facilitating all Emergency Management programs and training for City Staff to be best prepared to serve the community as Disaster Service Workers during a disaster or crisis.
Volunteer Program:
Volunteers have an opportunity to learn about law enforcement and help improve law enforcement services. Our Volunteer Program increases community pride by allowing volunteers to serve as role models and most importantly, be part of a community program concerned with the common good and well being of the city we all love.
Cadet Program:
Our Cadet Program consists of part-time employees who play a vital role in providing quality police services to our community. Cadets typically work between 15-20 hours per week and perform a wide variety of duties to assist in accomplishing daily supportive tasks. This is a training position is intended to provide individuals with exposure to the full spectrum of local police operations and procedures as preparation for a law enforcement related career.
