August 17, 2008
Good morning - Thanks for the e-mail and I think what you are doing is a great idea. What I can do is to add you to my e-mail distribution list so everytime I write a press release or send anything to the media - you will get the exact same thing...an exact copy of what the media receives.
I do get frustrated when only parts of the information we release is put into the newspaper article or on the TV news. One of the reasons we started doing Straight to You webcasts (posted at oxnardpd.org) was due to my longtime frustration at incomplete reporting. It is not uncommon for me to talk to a reporter for 10-15 minutes about a crime story and then find only 2-3 sentences of what I said appearing in the article. And I get very frustrated at incomplete suspect information - to not include every bit of info we have on a suspect - to me - is simply not right nor in the best interest of public safety.
Through your efforts at least people can see more complete information.
It will be tomorrow before I can add you to my distribution list - our computer folks don't typically work Sunday's, but I'll have him add you when he comes in Monday.
With respect to your offer to help enroll people in the Reverse 911 system - absolutely I think that would be great - I'm not in charge of that system but I'll pass your offer onto the person that is and maybe you and she can coordinate those efforts.
On a side note - I see that we (OPD) are getting blasted a bit in the Star blogs about not using the R-911 system yesterday with this 211/homicide. I understand people's frustration, however I believe using that system yesterday would have caused more problems than it would have solved. I cannot go into all the reasons I feel that way, because if I did it could compromise the integrity of this investigation, but sometimes people just need to trust us in how and why we do or don't do certain things.
We always weigh the pros and cons of our decisions - and that may not always make sense to everyone - but always keep in mind we are operating with a great deal more information about a particular situation that the general public. Also keep in mind that we release only a small percentage of the information we have in any particular situation...and great consideration is always given as to what we release or don't release.
I know that answer won't appease some people but yesterday was a very fluid situation and we utilized the tools we felt would work best.
Thank you very much for your efforts. (Feel free to cut and paste this e-mail onto your blog)
David Keith
Spokesperson
OPD
Anonymous Said,
I have a major criticism.
Suffice it to say I am familiar with how searches for missing persons are conducted. If a person is lost, and wants to be found, they need to stay in the same spot.
Often search teams sent into the wilderness will miss the person who was at one spot, but them moved before the second "wave" retraces the first search pattern (that is, a search team will fan out, then go back the same way, and if they missed you the first time, and you move, your chances of being found become less).
The inverse can then, IMHO, be applied to someone NOT wanting to be found. If a suspect wants to hide, keep moving, and the chances decrease that they will be found.
The reason I mention this is because the VC Star stated that a team of 40 individuals were sent to search a 1/2 mile radius. While it's true a helicopter was sent out beyond that range, you don't get the detail you get with a ground search/foot patrol.
The search area was limited too close, and could have allowed the suspect's escape. The search should have been:
20 people search 1/2 mile radius
20 people search 1 mile radius
This accounts for the fact that a murder suspect, even assuming familiarity/comfort with the area, will try and flee as far as possible, as quick as possible.
IMHO, The Oxnard PD dropped the ball. Also not the Oxnard PDs fault, but the bank should have a guard, and armed. INEXCUSABLE.
Posted on August 18, 2008 12:01 PM
Anonymous Said,
I'd like to comment that some guy calling himself camdad said "too bad you should have banked in Camarillo" on the VC Star blog.
He's a racist, ignorant, piece of $hit in my opinion, and if I knew who he was, I'd tell him to his ugly racist face. Just and FYI.
Posted on August 18, 2008 4:17 PM
Anonymous Said,
I listened a bit on my scanner SAT morning to the events after the crime occurred. There were OPD, VCSD, including the helicopter searching the area. There were numerous undercover units as well. During the search the copter had to refuel and also break away to a call of a water rescue. They were in earnest to catch this perp, and did their best. He was lucky that day but HIS DAY is coming.
Posted on August 18, 2008 10:22 PM