Part 1 of 2
by Carol Leish, MA

Chief of Police Darin Schindler of Ventura Police Department said, “In my three plus decades in law enforcement, I’ve seen the evolution of mental health responses come full circle. Years ago, the police department was called out to assist mobile crisis teams when they needed help because someone was uncooperative after being placed on a 72-hour hold. Usually, we would standby to make sure no one got injured and they were able to safely transport the patient to a facility.”

“Over time that model slowly began to change; we were getting more calls to assist, and it seemed like a transition began with law enforcement being expected to be more directly involved and hands on. Fast forward to today and the police department has become the de facto first responders to many of these types of calls. Now we are the ones calling Ventura County Behavioral Health to ask for their assistance.”

Police Chief Schindler continued by saying, “We have trained the majority (close to 90%) of our officers in Crisis Intervention Training. More often than not, we are the first responders to situations when someone is suffering a mental health crisis, often when there is no underlying criminal component. We receive a dozen or so calls every day concerning mental health situations.

“When we receive a call regarding a potentially suicidal person, persons dealing with a mental health crisis, or calls about disturbances that involve someone experiencing a mental health episode of some sort, we also contact Ventura County Behavioral Health and ask for their assistance. In the last few years, especially with the social justice movement, there has been somewhat of a shift in the thinking the public questioning why aren’t Behavioral Health responders the first to respond.”

Sara Sanchez, LMFT, Division Chief for Access & Outreach Services at VCBH said, “The Crisis Team will respond with the police depending on the situation. It would be ideal to have a joint response, but the limiting factor is that the Crisis Team is county wide. This makes it responsible for responding to things in Fillmore to Simi, and everything in-between. The Crisis Team when fully staffed is at 28 people. They work every day of the year/24 hours a day. Currently there are 16 on staff. We are actively recruiting for more people to be on staff. The staff includes Registered Nurses, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage Family Therapists and Psychiatric Technicians.”

John Schipper, Ph.D., Division Chief for Adult Services for Ventura County Behavioral Health said, “There are two types of interventions that we do with the police. One is responding to crisis calls in the moment, such as, if someone is suicidal. The other type of call, which is not an emergency call, involves trying to engage people who may be homeless and struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. The RISE (Rapid Integrated Support & Engagement) Team partners with police and makes rounds throughout the county to engage people in treatment before a crisis arises.”

“In the past couple of years with the pandemic,” according to Dr. Schipper, “things were affected. First, it inhibited our (VCBH’s) ability to ride with police. We have started to see a recent easing of restrictions and more of an ability to meet in person. However, part of what the Crisis Team does is assessments of people in the ER of hospitals who may be suicidal, or a danger to others, Zoom helped out by making the process more efficient by eliminating the driving distances throughout Ventura County. The need for treatment, which both the Ventura County Behavioral Health and the various police and sheriff stations throughout Ventura County have been providing has been helping out people with mental illness.”

 Part 2 :  “Ventura Police and Ventura County training will be in the next issue.

Photos by Richard Lieberman

The winning entries of the County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade have been announced. The parade was held on Saturday, March 12.

Judges for the parade were Matt LaVere, Ventura County Supervisor;

Nina Kobayashi, Mechanics Bank; Celina Zacarias, California State University Channel Islands; James Lockwood, Ventura County Fairgrounds; Connie Stahl, Elk’s Lodge #1430.

There were 83 parade entries. The parade theme was “One World, One

Air, We All Share.” A salute to our environment.

The parade was presented by Ventura Elk’s #1430 and the Grand Marshal was parade co-chair Nan Drake of Harrison Industries.

The winners :

Color Guard: Oxnard High School Air Force Junior ROTC

Bands

• High School Band: Buena High School Marching Band
• Junior High School Band: Cabrillo Middle School Jazz Band
• Adult Band: Pacific Coast Highlanders Pipe Band
• Families: The McGrath Family Equestrian: Camarillo White Horses

Clubs and Organizations

• Adult: Ventura Nite Riders/Simi Valley Fallout Riders
• Youth: Ventura High School Cheerleaders
• Non-Profit: Ventura Chamber of Commerce

Vehicles

• Antique: Ventura County Model “A” Ford Club
• Classic Cars prior to 1950s: Gary Cooper- Light Green Machine
• Classic Cars 1950s or later: Ventura Hot Rodders Men’s Breakfast
• Special Interest Auto: Ventura County Corvette Club
• Tractors: Topa Topa Fly Wheelers
• Individual Vehicle: Ding Masters Fire Truck: J.W. Enterprises
• Commercial: Pizza Man Dan’s

Media (tie)

• Lazer Broadcasting
• Novelty: Surf Rodeo
• Walking Entries: Unique Diamonds Competitive Cheerleaders
• Most Irish: Claddagh School of Irish Dance
• Environmental Green Theme: Agromin
• Restaurants and Pubs: O’Leary’s Tavern
• Government Agencies: Assembly member Steve Bennett
• Mayor’s Trophy: Oxnard High School Marching Swarm
• Best in Parade (Arnold Hubbard Perpetual Trophy): Claddagh School of Irish Dance
• Mayor’s Trophy: Oxnard High School Marching Swarm
• Best in Parade (Arnold Hubbard Perpetual Trophy): Claddagh School of Irish Dance

Schindler stepped into the office of Chief of Police the same month Covid hit. Photos by Patricia Schallert

by Sheli Ellsworth

Ventura Police Department (VPD) Chief Ken Corney officially retired in December 2019 after 33 years on the force but stayed in office for a couple of months so a nationwide search for a new chief could be conducted, and ultimately so his successor, Darin Schindler, could complete his open projects. Schindler stepped into the office of Chief of Police the same month Covid hit. “All of a sudden everything was locked down. We were patrolling parks and beaches,” Schindler explained. “People were calling in about their neighbors who were violating the no-congregating order by having get togethers, and not social distancing, against the health order.

Schindler says his own wish list went out the window. Promotions were delayed when Covid health protocols became a priority. “We had flex schedules for investigators, some administrators worked from home. Dispatchers spread out into the far corners of the room.” About a third of the 250-person police force came down with the virus, but none were hospitalized and there were no deaths. “While many employees were exposed on-duty, most of the positive infections were believed to have been contracted during off-duty time. Regardless, quarantines were occurring due to potential exposures to co-workers and investigators had to put cases on hold and perform patrol duties.”

“After a few months, about the time of the George Floyd killing, we began to put together a new, updated VPD Strategic Plan for moving forward. Even though Ventura PD has enjoyed a positive and strong relationship with the community for several years, there was increased social unrest across the country in regard to policing. It was a stressful time for the community and police officers everywhere. I sat down with my command staff, and we spoke about using the calls for justice as an opportunity to strengthen our police/community partnership even more.” Chief Schindler said.

The Ventura Police Department updates their goals and strategies every few years to keep pace with the changing needs of the community. Schindler’s 2020-2023 Plan states that the VPD Mission is: To protect, serve, and problem solve with our community. The VPD Vision: Great people, providing exceptional service. VPD Values: Excellence, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect and Transparency.

Schindler has six major goals.

1) Crime Control: Improve response times to calls for service, achieve a crime clearance rate that is better than the national average, and achieve a reduction in aggravated assaults and robberies. Some of the strategies include expanding forensic examination and crime scene processing capabilities, reinstituting gang prevention and intervention programs, and increasing crime prevention messaging across social media platforms.

2) Team Development: Attain 100% compliance with Police Officer Standards and Training requirements, staffing retention, and aligning sworn demographics with those of the community. The department has already incorporated mental health resiliency into its wellness program and has begun to develop a teen explorer program with representation from each of the City’s seven districts.

3) Active Partnerships: Increase community outreach and input into police operations, decrease community complaints related to vagrancy, and strengthen relationships with community stakeholders. As part of this goal, each City district now has a police commander assigned to oversee it and the department has staffed an enhanced patrol presence during peak hours in its public areas.

4) Safe neighborhoods: Increase collaboration efforts within neighborhoods, reduce fatal and injury traffic collisions, and reduce auto thefts, burglaries, and larcenies in neighborhoods. The department is moving back to an in-person neighborhood watch model, has increased gun violence prevention and response training, and increasing its Volunteers in Policing program.

5) Efficiency and Accountability: Increase Department transparency, track and reduce personnel complaints, and attain a 100% “within department policy” for all use of force incidents. In 2021, the Department was an early implementer of the Racial and Identity Profiling Act, and has increased training in topics like tactical communication, ethical decision making, implicit bias, racial profiling, and cultural diversity.

Schindler has also noticed an uptick in Ventura’s homeless since Covid. Homelessness tends to be transitory by nature and quite often surrounding communities will experience shared issues and responses in relation. “When we come in contact with individuals that are homeless our officers will talk to them to get a little bit of their stories, and find out if they are open to resources or other types of assistance,” said Schindler. Many of the homeless in Ventura come for the mild climate, the secluded river bottoms, county assistance, food banks and shelters. With the county jail located in Ventura, inmates are released onto the streets driving the numbers even higher.

The Chief said there are different reasons for homelessness and a one size fits all approach doesn’t work. Some people are temporarily down on their luck. A lost job or medical expenses that wiped out their savings can create homelessness that needs a hand up. “These people are usually receptive to help until they are back on their feet.”

There is another group, the ones Assembly Bill 109 (Prison overcrowding) released—a lot of “non-violent offenders.” These homeless people are more hardened and more likely to commit crime, even from other homeless people, sell drugs and are more likely to attack others. “They rarely want or benefit from services. We may lock them up one day and see them out the next. They are usually habitual offenders.”

The third tier and the largest population is made up of people with mental health and/or addiction issues. “We always begin by offering assistance, but we can’t force anyone to accept help. It is not illegal to be homeless or mentally ill. Even those individuals who get counseling and medication may choose not to take it. It is the saddest group of homeless. Over the years, we have seen an increasing correlation with the need for behavioral health intervention amongst this population. Often times, our officers will receive calls for service on the same individuals several times a day. When we do transport someone to Behavioral Health for assistance, more often than not, the facility is at full capacity and we must wait for an opening.”

The Chief would like to see Ventura County take a more collaborative approach to help with the homeless problem. “We need more resources, especially in the areas of mental health treatment and addiction intervention. Homelessness may never go away, but if we can help some unhoused individuals, maybe they can eventually help out others.” The cost to society is momentous. “When we clean up a homeless encampment it is not unusual for us to haul away tons of debris. Sometimes officers locate stolen property amongst the debris.

Schindler indicated that his job today is much more about policing and problem solving than it is about “law enforcement”. He stresses community service and responsiveness as one of his department’s top priorities. “We want to hear from the community, they are our partners in this journey.”

Learn more about the VPD three-year Strategic Plan, and download a copy in English or Spanish, online at www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/VPDStrategicPlan.

Parade entries are now being accepted for the Ventura Elks Club’s 2022 County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will commence at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12, along Main Street in midtown Ventura. Among the county’s most popular annual community events, the parade was dark in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID, but it returns in full force this year, along a new and improved Main Street route, running downhill from Lincoln Drive to Fir Street.

Entry to join in the parade is easy: Prospective entrants can simply go to the parade website and follow the basic steps to submit their forms and pay via PayPal. Entry deadline is Thursday, March 3; only the first 100 entries will be accepted.

Leading the parade as its grand marshal will be Nan Drake, longtime co-chair of the parade committee (along with Jim Monahan and Brian Brennan). Drake is the governmental affairs and public relations director for E.J. Harrison & Sons, a sponsor of the annual parade since its first year, in 1987. She’s proud of her work, she said, “because every day at Harrison, we improve the environment by recycling with the help of all of the residents and businesses in their service areas.” The parade theme is “One World, One Air, We All Share”

The 2020 Irish Belle will once again take part in the parade lineup and don’t forget our famous giant dirigible pig. Many entries that were on board in 2020 have confirmed for this year — so please join us for the fun and celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone is Irish.

For more information on the parade and to enter, visit venturastpatricksdayparade.com.

If you have any entry questions, call parade committee member Aaron Gaston at 805-340-8217 or committee member Dan McGrath at 805-231-2779. For other parade information, contact Faye McDonald at [email protected] or 805-650-0825; or Jim Monahan at 805-340-1356.

A grand reopening ceremony was held.

by Richard Lieberman

Players Casino Ventura is back in business in a new location at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The casino, much like other businesses has suffered from the effects of Covid-19 and shut down permanently last December filing for bankruptcy four months later. Ventura City was faced with the loss of a major tax revenue source. At a recent City Council meeting, the council approved the re-opening of the casino at a new location that will help fill in the cash shortfall from the closure.

Players has been temporarily approved to open at the Derby Club located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, a grand reopening ceremony was held. The decision to open at the Derby Club gives the casino an opportunity to recoup some of its losses and keep the tax revenue stream flowing again.

Attendees at the event included Joe Schroeder Deputy Mayor and Stephanie Caldwell, President of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon cutting ceremony led by Patrick Berry was conducted as a crowd of eager gamblers gathered at the front of the casino serenaded by a Mariachi Band on hand to add to the festivities. The crowd was addressed by local and county officials all praising Players second chance at life.

Tax revenue for the city, on average amounted to two million dollars a year leaving a gaping hole in city coffers after the casino closed. The city expected the revenue to continue through the 2021-2022 fiscal year but has drastically reduced the expectations to a fraction of what it was.

The city in approving the reopening and relocation has hopes to make up for at least some of the tax revenue even though the city, because the new location is owned and managed by the state will receive no tax revenue.

The city had depended on a 15% tax stream but will receive a steady flow of income through a program known as PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program. Players has agreed to pay the city a lesser amount, with the agreement running through 2025. The casino has offered, and the city has accepted a reduced amount. The casino will give up 10% of it is operations and the casino will be able to defer 5% of its income until 2027 to make up for relocation costs.

Patrick Berry General Manager said, “I think from our viewpoint right now that the percentage, the 10% and the deferral are what is going to allow us to keep in business.” Berry added “We don’t know what is going to happen, and we hope nothing happens and things just go up from here.”

With the agreement on revenue amounts to the city, Ventura will receive approximately 1.3 million a year according to City Council estimates.

The time has come to say goodbye to the Harbor arcade. Photos by Patricia Schallert

A state-of-the-art family entertainment venue, managed by Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc., will open in the Ventura Harbor Village with the approval of a multi-year lease by the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners.  The contract for the lease was approved unanimously by the Ventura Port Commission on Jan. 19. Aarmark signed a six-year lease with options for three additional fiveyear- terms.

Aarmark will pay a base rent and common-area maintenance charges totaling about $13,000 a month, plus 4% of gross sales.

The 5,700 square foot venue hopes to open by April, 2023.

Aaron Running, CEO of Aarmark Beer Gardens said entertainment options will include “multi-sport simulators, virtual reality, retro arcade games, a stadium seating sports viewing, and more.” This is much more in keeping with the type of games that are played today by both youth and adults as compared to what is there now.

The company operates restaurants in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, including SB Biergarten in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, Fire & Vice in Moorpark and Santa Maria, and Copenhagen Sausage Garden in Solvang.

The Ventura Port District, that manages the Ventura Harbor Village, plans to invest $725,000 in facade and infrastructure improvements to the building. Aarmark will invest an additional $651,500.

District’s General Manager Brian Pendleton said “This exciting and vibrant entertainment use will continue to expand upon offerings springing up at Harbor Village, joining many long-time favorites.”

Marlyss Auster, President and CEO of the Visit Ventura praised the new Village endeavor.  “The family entertainment, complemented with fresh restaurant offerings, add to the wonderful variety of options available at Ventura Harbor Village, and will encourage visitors to stay longer to enjoy its scenic setting.”