Ventura Police Department

Ventura Police Department will soon begin closing its front desk two hours earlier each evening to shift more desk officers to the middle of the day when more crimes are reported. Beginning Saturday, the department's front counter will be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. The counter now closes at 10 p.m. Capt. Randy Adams said the new hours will allow the department to schedule two desk officers beginning at 10 a.m.

Police were seeking information Wednesday on a British motivational speaker and spiritual healer who was arrested in Ventura in connection with the killing of a Las Vegas woman. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers were responding to a missing person's report Nov. 30 when they found the body of Ginger Candela, 44, in her garage. The residence had been ransacked and numerous items had been taken, according to a Las Vegas police statement. Police suspect Michael Lane, 34, of killing Candela.

Denise Schlapper had not even been there 15 minutes when her daughter had the cops toss her in the clink. Even better, it only cost her a buck. Standing behind the bars of a small "jail" at the Ventura Police Department's fourth annual Block Party on Saturday, the Ventura mother had just dropped off her other daughter, Denise, 13, who dressed as Felix the Cat for the day.

Ventura Assistant Police Chief Pat Miller has been named to the department's top job, city officials announced Monday. Miller, 51, had served as the interim chief since Dec. 4, after the retirement of Mike Tracy, who headed the department for six years. As an assistant chief for the Operations Division since 1998, Miller administered the patrol, traffic, SWAT, special enforcement, training, schools and narcotics departments.

The Ventura Police Department will set up sobriety checkpoints throughout the city tonight in an effort to get drunk drivers off the road, officials said. Sgt. George Morris said the department's Special Operations Division will staff the checkpoints during the evening. "The Ventura Police Department's use of the checkpoints is an attempt to reinforce the philosophy that drinking-impaired drivers will not be tolerated," Morris said.

An Oak View house valued at $160,000 was seized last week by the FBI, the U.S. Marshal and officers of the Ventura Police Department as a result of a narcotics investigation by the Ventura Police. The house at 100 Watkins Way was used by George S. Curtis in the sale of narcotics, an FBI official said. Curtis, 45, was charged by the Ventura County district attorney's office with possession of narcotics for sale, possession of narcotics and being under the influence of narcotics.

The Ventura Police Department received permission Monday to destroy a plethora of records, which officials say are obsolete and take up valuable space. The City Council approved the department's request without discussion at its meeting. The department lists 36 different types of records it plans to destroy. All the files are at least two years old. Among the documents are concealed-weapons permits that expired before Jan. 1, 1992, and false-alarm reports filed before that date.

The Ventura Police Department has launched a program to reward motorists who exhibit safe and courteous driving. Called "Caught in the Act," the program was started by the Ventura Police Wives Assn. and is sponsored by Milano's Italian Restaurant. Ventura police officers will pull over drivers who are being safe and courteous and issue them a certificate for a free spaghetti dinner at Milano's. The program is designed to encourage motorists to drive safely during the holiday season.

A Ventura woman has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of wrongfully possessing a person's confidential criminal history while working at the Ventura Police Department, officials said Wednesday. At her boyfriend's request, Kelly Lane Dean, 42, used a workplace computer in October to access the criminal history of an unidentified third party, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Tom Temple.

Re "City Calls Accusations Against Police Chief Candidate Unfounded," Jan. 23. As a person quoted in this article, I feel compelled to shed some light on a very important subject that was trivialized and complicated by the issue of whether Mike Tracy should be the next chief of the Ventura Police Department. Although this appointment is worthy of lengthy discussion, I believe the issue of parity and equity for women and people of color within that department presents a continuing challenge no matter who is assigned the position of top cop. As in many workplaces in our nation, sexism and racism are often institutionalized, and the Ventura Police Department is no different.

Authorities were seeking information Thursday in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Ventura boy. Police and firefighters found Kristopher Reeves on the sidewalk in the 200 block of West Ramona Street about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday after a resident called 911, authorities said. He had been shot once in the upper body. He was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he died, police said.

Ventura Police Chief Mike Tracy announced his retirement Wednesday after nearly five years as the seaside city's top peace officer. Tracy, 55, will leave Dec. 4, nearly three decades after he joined the Ventura Police Department. Assistant Police Chief Patrick Miller, 51, has been named to replace him, at least on an interim basis. Tracy said he endorsed Miller for the permanent job. "I've got the best job in Ventura, but I've been here almost 30 years," Tracy said.

Armed with a long list of names, Ventura police detectives descended on several motels Wednesday, banging on doors, determined to find their guys. "Good morning. We're delivering some gifts," said Ventura Det. Thomas Mendez before the three children in Room 107 of the Mission Bell Motel happily accepted their holiday surprises. "Merry Christmas."

An Oxnard man has been arrested in the stabbing death of a 21-year-old Ventura man at a Pacific View Mall parking lot, authorities said Wednesday. Bystanders told police they saw two men fighting in the lot near Telegraph Road in Ventura shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday. One man ran across Telegraph Road and the second man, Hilario Casillas, ran to the witnesses and said he had been stabbed, then collapsed, authorities said.

Ventura police were searching Friday evening for a man who allegedly shot his wife at their Harrison Avenue home earlier in the day. Michelle Olivarez, 33, was taken to Ventura County Medical Center after the 1:45 p.m. incident and underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the back of the shoulder, police said. She was listed in serious condition. According to police, Joseph Olivarez, 35, shot his wife in the presence of their children during an argument.

Ventura Police Officer Jeff Ryan Brooks, son of county Sheriff Bob Brooks, was never fingerprinted or booked into jail after his arrest this week on suspicion of drunk driving, authorities confirmed Friday. Instead, the 27-year-old Camarillo resident was cited and released to the custody of his girlfriend. Local defense attorneys said it was a highly unusual move for a suspected drunk driver.

The Ventura Police Department and the Ventura Unified School District will hold their second Parent Awareness and Education Workshop at Ventura High School. The meeting, from 7 to 9 p.m. today, is intended to educate parents about gangs, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and community resources available to deal with such problems. The first workshop was held Feb. 10 at Buena High School. The third and final workshop is scheduled for April 21 at De Anza Middle School.

A 14-year-old foster child was threatening only herself when Ventura police found her holding a knife in May and critically wounded her with gunshots to the stomach, her lawyers and father said Monday. Officer Kristin Rupp, who shot the girl, has been cleared of wrongdoing. The girl's trial on one felony count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon -- a kitchen knife with an 8-inch blade -- is scheduled to begin next week in Juvenile Court.

A Ventura woman has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of wrongfully possessing a person's confidential criminal history while working at the Ventura Police Department, officials said Wednesday. At her boyfriend's request, Kelly Lane Dean, 42, used a workplace computer in October to access the criminal history of an unidentified third party, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Tom Temple.