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Our Members VCDSA members are active and retired sworn law enforcement personnel of both the Ventura County Sheriffs' Department and the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation. Members also include Deputy Sheriff Trainees, Provisional Deputy Sheriffs, and Reserve Deputies. In 2002, membership reached an all time high of over 850 active duty and 325 retired members. A great majority of our members are Deputy Sheriffs, Senior Deputies, Sergeants and District Attorney Investigators. Management level members include the Sheriff, the Chief D.A. Investigator, the Undersheriff, Chief Deputies, Captains, and Commanders. Ventura County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue and Aviation Unit
The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) team is organized by members of the Department who participate in SAR as a collateral assignment. The SAR team counts among its members many civilian volunteers who bring with them much-needed expertise, including advanced medical skills, and climbing and backcountry knowledge. When called upon, these deputies and their civilian volunteers put aside their daily lives and put their training and skills to work to aid those who are missing or lost. In addition to search and rescue missions, the Ventura County Sheriff's Aviation Unit provides a wide variety of functions, from patrol operations to emergency medical response and fire suppression. The impressive skills of Sheriff's Pilots are drawn upon continuously as they maneuver their distinctive aircraft virtually everywhere, in all conceivable conditions, when help is needed. Many stranded or injured hikers have been safely rescued from Ventura County's rugged backcountry and flood-swollen streams. Water-drop helicopters can deliver water payloads to inaccessible fires, and can also swiftly deploy fire hand-crews to flash spots.
District Attorney Investigators
Among the members of VCDSA are approximately forty-two District Attorney Investigators employed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The assignments of these highly trained investigators include Major Crimes, Sexual Assault/Family Protection, Gangs/Firearms, Major Fraud, Government Fraud, Intelligence, and Child Abduction. The primary role of the D.A. Investigators is to assist Deputy District Attorneys in investigating and preparing criminal cases for trial. This often includes locating key witnesses and securing witness statements, developing additional physical evidence, executing search warrants, finding experts, locating informants, and conducting all other follow-up investigations necessary to ensure proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, D.A. Investigators obtain and develop evidence of new criminal offenses resulting in direct criminal filings and Grand Jury indictments, and they assist other local law enforcement agencies with officer involved shootings, crime scene analysis, gang sweeps, probation searches and wiretaps. [back to top ]
Few people realize it, but the K9 “deputies” in use by the Sheriff's Department, and much of their specialized equipment, are paid for entirely through the donations of private individuals and civic-minded business organizations. These unique dogs, which cost thousands of dollars each, are bred and trained for police work. The deputy sheriffs who work as K9 handlers undergo rigorous ongoing training with their K9 partners. The dogs not only assist with patrol operations on a daily basis, but their search and seizure skills are vital to detection and interdiction of narcotics, explosives, and other contraband. In the last two years, K9 teams have made over 600 arrests and led directly to the seizure of over 74 pounds of marijuana and almost 2 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. [back to top ]
VCDSA members patrol all of the unincorporated areas of Ventura County as well as the cities of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Ojai, Fillmore and Camarillo. Our goal is to keep residents safe and free from the fear of crime. The patrol operations of the Sheriff's Department are not confined to black and white patrol cars. Several communities policed by deputies make good use of bike patrol units to bring a more personal level of law enforcement service right to the parking lots, sidewalks, and shopping areas where it may be needed most. [back to top ]
Traffic Safety Emergency Response and Enforcement Traffic safety enforcement is a key component of police work. Traffic violations are the single leading cause of traffic accidents and injuries. The skilled motorcycle officers employed by the Sheriff's Department in Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and elsewhere in the county are equipped to enforce traffic laws and also provide an extra margin of safety in response to emergency calls. These “motor” units are becoming more and more valuable assets as growing traffic congestion often prevents cars from reaching an incident scene. [back to top ] The Ventura County Sheriff's Mounted Enforcement Unit (MEU) is consistently recognized as one of the finest in the state. The Mounted Unit is a collateral assignment within the Department, which means that deputies who work full-time in other law enforcement functions utilize their own horses to provide a very visible, effective, and unique public safety service. These highly trained deputies and their horses are often called upon to assist in crowd control functions, including mutual aid for other regional agencies, and also participate in search and rescue operations, and as noble adjuncts to the Sheriff's Honor Guard. [back to top ] Detention Services and Court Services VCDSA represents the men and women who are trained to walk the toughest beat in the county. These law enforcement officers work in an area that houses many violent offenders such as murderers, gang members, and sexual predators. VCDSA members include deputies, senior deputies, and sergeants who are responsible for providing security, enforcing laws, and housing inmates in the county jail system under the Detention Services Division. As a result of recent overcrowding, more than 1600 inmates are often supervised and housed in two jails that are rated to only hold about 1100 inmates. [back to top ] VCDSA members work as bailiffs and court security ensuring the safety and smooth operation of the Ventura County Superior Court system. Also, within the Court Services Division falls the Sheriff's Department Transportation Unit which is responsible for transporting inmates throughout Ventura County and the State of California. [back to top ]
VCDSA members also participate in the Sheriff's Department Special Services program which include Major Crimes Investigations, Narcotics Investigations, Intelligence & Vice Investigations, Hostage Negotiations Team, SWAT, and Bomb Squad. The highly skilled members of the Sheriff's Bomb Squad are trained to detect, disarm, and neutralize all types of explosive devices. The Squad's technologically advanced equipment includes explosive “sniffing” devices and a remote controlled robot; however, the risk to personnel can never be completely eliminated. These deputies are called to assist all county agencies when suspicious packages and possible bombs are detected. The members of the special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team are committed to maintaining the highest level of skill in every aspect of critical incident interdiction so that, when called upon, they can perform their demanding missions with minimal risk to civilians and fellow officers. Because of the nature of their operations, these dedicated public servants are always ready to place themselves in harm's way countywide to protect others. [back to top ]
The Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center provides law enforcement training to thousands of men and woman every year. The Academy operates in conjunction with the Ventura County Community College District to provide Basic Training in accordance with the guidelines set by the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). The Training Center also provides ongoing in-service courses in over a hundred topics, such as firearms, defensive tactics, officer safety, investigations, communications and leadership. The Sheriff's Training Center is known and respected throughout California for the high quality of its instruction and the high quality of the officers who pass through its doors. [back to top ]
Community Education and Violence Prevention It is never too early for safety education and training. The Sheriff's Department participates in safety instruction in the county's classrooms and its parks and playgrounds. Deputies working as K9 handlers routinely visit county schools to reinforce the importance of public safety and the law, and DARE officers in the cities that obtain police services from the Sheriff's Department provide classroom instruction, support, and mentoring to help youth make the right choice when it comes to drug abuse. Although budget cuts have forced a reduction of the DARE program, it remains available in many areas and has proven valuable in helping to steer kids away from drugs. [back to top ]
Ventura County Peace Officers' Memorial In 1998, through private donations and diligent effort, the Peace Officers Association of Ventura County erected the Ventura County Peace Officers' Memorial at the West entrance to the County Government Center, adjacent to Thille Street. The beautiful granite monument stands in recognition of those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while working to protect the public. Among the 28 names on the monument are male and female officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department, Santa Paula Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, Ventura College Campus Police, Harbor Patrol and the U.S Naval Station Police department at Pt. Mugu. [back to top ]
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