Eager to return to a police force that more resembles its pre-recession days, Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney promoted 12 employees, including two to assistant chief.
The changes stem from retirements, a reallocation of department resources to restore a second assistant chief position and the latest budget, which added $1.3 million to pay for eight positions during the next two years, Corney said.
Brock Avery and Dave Wilson, both commanders, were named assistant chiefs — the first time since 2008 the department has had two second-in-commands, Corney said. Each has more than 25 years with the department.
One of those positions opened up with the retirement of Assistant Chief Quinn Fenwick. Fenwick, who held that post since 2010, joined the department in 1981 as a cadet. Fenwick, 50, retired Dec. 21 along with another longtime department employee, Cmdr. Juan Reynoso. Reynoso, also 50, had spent 24 years with Ventura.
Cpl. Jim Beautrow and Officer Matt Liston also retired, with a combined 48 years of service between them.
Three sergeants were promoted to commander: Darin Schindler, Tim Turner and Rick Murray.
Three corporals were promoted to sergeant: John Snowling, Matt Cain and Terry Medina.
Snowling, who had been acting sergeant for several months, will continue to oversee the city's Safe and Clean Public Places Initiative.
Four officers were named corporals: Mike Brown, Tony Snow, Mark Knackstedt and Bill Dolan.
Cmdr. Mark Stadler, who had been overseeing the field services division, which includes the downtown task force, now over
sees professional standards and development. Cmdr. Al Davis will now lead the field services division.
Promotions routinely come with changes in base pay.
Based on experience, an assistant police chief earns $128,000 to $172,000. A commander who earns $109,000 to $145,000, according to the city. A sergeant earns $92,000 to $112,000; a corporal, $81,000 to just under $99,000.
"The promotions do not cause any increase in the current police department budget,"Corney said.
That's due to the new positions entering at a lower pay grade, or step, than those who retired, he said.
When Ventura significantly cut costs across the board in 2008 because of budget problems, the city lost an assistant police chief and two commanders.
"The idea of reducing to one assistant chief was meant to be a short-term solution to a budget issue," Corney said.
In the fiscal year that began July 1, the city authorized the hiring of one sergeant and four officers. In the 2013-14 budget year, two more officers and a nonsworn crime scene investigator will be added. Once all positions are filled, the department will have 130 employees, up from 122 in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
"It's been clear that functioning at that minimal level of oversight at the command level wasn't sustainable," Corney said. "We're still stretched thin, but the change will help to provide the oversight and direction for guiding the department successfully into the future."
A ceremony honoring those promoted took place Dec. 20 at City Hall. The promotions took effect Dec. 22.
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Comments » 25
Timofun writes:
I am amazed how quickly they were able to get the second assistant chief spot back...yet somehow they still haven't put out the council authorized crime scene investigator in the 7 months. Oh I forgot, the who "add these positions" was never going to be filled since then they have salary savings to use for their pet projects instead.
snakedoctor writes:
How many of the retirees decided to retire thinking their pension would be cut based on the new pension reform law?
I'm sure someone out there would know if VPD falls under the new law.
anonrp writes:
Oh great, more people doing administrative tasks than patrolling the streets! How about doing police work when it comes to burglaries and not kiss them off? Why not send an officer and see if you can get fingerprints to solve a crime that is a felony!
Jbigelow writes:
April 23 2010 in Star chief Corney says he doesnt have monry to go after illegals......well, you do now chief.....and you take federal funds for illegal checkpoints, so you are fully federalized a.d can round up illegals...or do you have your hands full enforcing parking?
ms_reason writes:
Isn't it amazing that someone can do twenty plus years as a Police Officer? Patroling the streets, dealing with the worst element out there, and protecting the community...WOW, that's something that they should be commended for doing.
This is a job that a lot of people cannot do and WILL not do. It's dangerous and with all of the crime in this County (esp. in Ventura), you can't help but want to thank them for doing what they do.
Congratulations to those who promoted. Your service IS appreciated. Thank you!
waynes-world writes:
Don't forget the biggest revenue generator, traffic enforcement.
VintageRacer writes:
DUI checkpoints are fully legal and do not violate the 5th Amendment. Don't think so? Check the US Supreme Court files and read it for yourself Andy!
VintageRacer writes:
Correction: 4th Amendment
VintageRacer writes:
Another LOE hater!
VintageRacer writes:
Correction: LEO (I need caffeine)
stoked writes:
So Ventura cut costs due to budget budget problems and chose to pad the upper echelons with the money saved? Just what we need to deter crime. More bosses.
thick (Inactive) writes:
Thank god we have more supervisors. I'm sure VTA will be better off.
jerryfromfillmore writes:
Will the police officers on patrol start taking reports now?
cjr writes:
Don't assume because the civilian volunteer who comes out to the scene of a burglary lifts prints that anything other than filing them in the case report will happen.
TK421 (Inactive) writes:
Just what the world needs, more chiefs and fewer indians! Somebody explain to me that if the department functioned without these positions filled during the recession, then why do they need them at all? Sounds like there could be several hundred thousand a year in pay and benefits that could go towards things the community really needs or wants...
smithjc#403367 writes:
while traffic tickets are expensive, it's not really a revenue generator for the city. the bulk of the money goes to the state. the last figure that i had, the citing agency gets 16% of the FINE only. the fine for a traffic infraction runs from $1 to $100. the rest of those large numbers that people are forking out are fee, penalty assessments, etc. so, how does this work out? let's take a stop sign violation as an example. the base fine (using the 2012 uniform bail schedule) is $35. but wait, you say. why does my notice from the court say $234? that's because there's state penalty assessment, a county penalty assessment, a court penalty assessment, a DNA penalty assessment, a court security fee, ad infinitum. the citing agenecy does not get a percentage of all those. so, in this particular case, the agency gets 16% of that base fine mentioned, $35, or in other words, $5.60. not a real big figure, especially if the officer has to go to court on his time off, requiring him/her to be paid overtime. traffic enforcement is generally a losing proposition money-wise, at least on the local level. its true value is in public safety.
Jbigelow writes:
Typical pension spiking operation before retirement. Time to ban cop unions and pension spiking.
VintageRacer writes:
Blah, blah, blah. You whine more than any other woman here.
T_Dub_126 writes:
Jeeze Andy, your comments are really getting old. Can't you complain about something new? You are like a broken record that can't be turned off. Oh, and have a great day. :-)
commonsenseapproach writes:
The Virtual Police Department (cause you never see them unless your at a Starbucks is the biggest joke in Ventura County Law Enforcement. Those of us that live in the city are stuck with the laziest officers in the county who refuse to take reports. It's not as if they have to write them, because they have dictation, so somebody making 8 bucks an hour actually writes your report. VPD officers will spend more time trying to talk you out of or refusing to take a report than it would have taken them to dictate it in the first place. Good luck having them respond to your home for a theft or burglary call, they'll just mail you a form to fill out. They are a joke and everyone knows it. Bring in the sheriff's dept and you'll see a dept that brings service and saves the city a ton of money, and a dept that actually does their job. The Sheriff's dept responds to every call for service, actually makes arrests other than 647(f)'s, and takes fingerprints no matter if it's a serious crime or not. They actually want to catch crooks and strive to provide service. All you get from VPD is lip service. Instead of adding back another Asst Chief position, hire 3 or four more cadets and train them to take traffic reports only, whether someone's injured or not. VPD's policy of not taking traffic reports is just plain laziness. You'll (citizen's) will get way more service out of those four cadets than they ever will out of another Asst Chief. Please provide better service to your citizen's, they deserve it.
no_spare_change writes:
Now maybe when you call the police to report a crime someone might actually show up.
Mina writes:
Thank you for a job well done.
Now let's go out and find more cops to fill in the space left behind. Don't forget to fill the support positions that make it possible for cops to spend more time on the street fighting crime.
Mina writes:
By the way, I hope that the two retiring at fifty and all the cops moving up the ranks will keep in mind that your union helped negotiate these decent wages and benefits.
I hope all the citizens who sleep well tonight keep in mind that without the union our police would have less support and more reason to go bad. The union demands that we pay wages high enough to attract the best, and even with that, it can be hard finding enough qualified recruits.
You cops on the force, don't forget which political party will work the hardest to keep guns out of the hands of crazy people and thereby keep you safer.
Don't forget which party is willing to tell people the truth that if they want to incarcerate more people they're going to have to vote for the funds to pay for it.
The Republican party has been taken over by anti-government extremists. The Democrats are the new Republican.
50Luva writes:
I agree that adding another Asst Chief is ridiculous. This city needs more officers on patrol. But those of you complaining that the police "won't" take crime reports anymore need to ask yourselves why. The bottom line is that they're UNDERSTAFFED!!!! If your car was broken into or you think someone stole your dog, or you were in a fender bender -no injuries- do you really need an officer standing in front of you taking a report? Or could you do that online? (And by the way, if you fill out the report online, you can get a copy for free. If not, you will have to pay for one). It's like using the self-checkout at the grocery store. Sure, it's nice to have someone scan and bag your groceries for you, but couldn't you do it yourself?? Especially when there are 5 people in line in front of you? You'd get it done much quicker if you did it yourself.
I'm so tired of people blaming the "lazy"cops. They're not lazy, they're BUSY... taking frivolous reports! They created the online option to help free them up to fight "real" crime.
Go on a ride-along. See what kind of work they do each shift. Most of us live in this wonderful little bubble and have no idea what really goes on out there. It's truly eye-opening. Vote for a tax increase! Go to a city council meeting and demand more patrolling in the downtown area, if that's what you want. Be proactive!
commonsenseapproach writes:
Understaffing has nothing to do with providing the proper service for the citizen's of your city. Why should I have to write my own traffic report online when officers are trained to that and VPD has a well staffed traffic dept. If you don't believe me go to Subway at Victoria and Telegraph and you can see all 6 motors parked in the same spot and eating lunch all at the same time. Maybe this is why they don't have time to take reports because they are not staggering their hours. Officers work hard, very hard and absolutely need time to eat. My point is it looks very unprofessional to have your complete motor unit eating at the same time at the same establishment. Other depts in the county only allow two officers at the same eating location at one time. With all 6 eating at the same time, who's working the streets, stagger your lunch breaks. I've been on ride alongs before and the Sheriff's dept is hands down more attentive to it's citizen's needs than the Virtual Police Dept. As a citizen, I don't get paid to write my own traffic reports, they do and all the other law enforcement agencies in Ventura County provide this service. I believe state law dictates that they do this but I could be mistaken. What makes the "Kiss off a report dept" better than any other or any more understaffed than other depts. All depts are in the same boat. Instead of another Assistant Chief, eliminate a Commander position as well (how many do you need in a city this size) and you could have hired 4 more patrol officers instead of promoting two in the better salaried positions. My guess is if your understaffed on the street, cut at the top and provide more at the bottom for the same amount of money. I take it you must be connected to someone at VPD if your thanking the union for the job our officers do. The union is needed but it is the officer on the street that does the job, not the union. Also I appreciate all our officers in Ventura, but VPD needs to provide better service to it's citizen's. Oh by the way, traffic reports aren't frivolous if your the one involved in one. Plus, I tend to think the insurance company might believe an officer's report over a citizen writing their own. It's a little thing called professional vs non-professional.
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