Since Oxnard’s incorporation in 1903, seven of its sworn officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.
These seven officers are additionally memorialized at the California Peace Officers’ Memorial & National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Officer James R. Jensen, Jr.
Officer Jim O’Brien
Senior Officer John Adair
Officer Frederick John Clark
Officer Albert Gasperetti
Constable William E. Kelley
Deputy Constable Andrew M. McNaughton
Officer James Rex Jensen, Jr.
End of Watch: March 13, 1996
Officer James Rex Jensen Jr., a member of the Oxnard Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, was killed during the service of a high risk search warrant.
Jim was born on June 19th, 1965. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah before joining the United States Marine Corps. After his service to his country, Jim joined Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a deputy . In 1992, he lateraled to the Oxnard Police Department. Jim was a dedicated, hard working officer who was respected by both his peers and the community. Jim had a passion for baseball and coached a youth baseball team at Sunset Little League, located at Durley Park. Jim was a role model for many youth in the City of Oxnard and members of the department as well. Jim is survived by his wife, Jenny, and two daughters, Lindsey and Katie.
A training facility at the Oxnard Police Department has been named in his honor.
“Death leaves painful void in communities”
Just last Saturday, Ventura’s James Jensen Jr. spend his day off on the baseball diamond helping youngsters in the Police Activities League’s baseball camp hone their skills for the coming season.
For the 30 year-old husband and father of two young girls, serving his community — whether it was coaching Little League, talking to schoolchildren or serving on Oxnard’s SWAT team — was what life was all about, friend and colleagues said Wednesday.
“It’s something that’s almost unexplainable,” Jensen’s friend and fellow Oxnard police Officer Steve Adams said Wednesday, just hours after Jensen was tragically killed. “It’s just a read deep pain. How do you tell the kids who were on his Little League team? How do we tell the kids he used to talk to in schools?”
Adams said he was coaxed by Jensen to join the Oxnard department a few years back after the pair began their careers together with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The two studied together to become members of Oxnard’s SWAT team, Adams said.
“He never talked about the dangers,” Adams said. “We talked about the mental preparedness it would take, the physical preparedness it would take. He reached his goal. Every time he went on a raid, he was extremely happy.”
Mike Bocanegra, president of Oxnard’s Sunset Little League, where Jensen coached teen players on the Phillies last year, said Jensen could talk about the pitfalls of drugs and gangs without being intimidating. Meanwhile, Jensen would devote more of his time toward seeking out league sponsors.
“Every bit of his time was given to helping someone else,” Bocanegra said.
The players “knew him as a friend, somebody they could confide in,” he said. “He was a big role model for them.”
Officer Jim O’Brien
End of Watch: December 2, 1993
Jim was tragically shot and killed during a vehicle pursuit following a shooting rampage at the EDD office in Oxnard. Jim, or “OB” as he was widely known, was a well-respected and dedicated officer who had a reputation as a “cop’s cop.” You don’t have to look any further than the day of his death to realize his dedication to the City of Oxnard and his profession. When the call went out of a shooting incident at the EDD office, Jim responded without hesitation. What makes his response unique is he was on his day off. Jim had stopped by the station to take care of a few things and without regard for his own safety, he immediately responded.
At the time of his death, Jim was assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau, investigating gang and tagger related graffiti crimes. Not only respected by his fellow officers, Jim gained the respect of those he investigated and arrested. He was an accomplished athlete, who excelled at karate and boxing, and frequently brought home gold medals while competing in the California Police Olympics. He had been previously awarded the Medal of Valor for rescuing a citizen during a shootout in the Colonia neighborhood. Jim had been a member of the Oxnard Police Department for nine years, having previously served with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Hueneme Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Leslie, son Sean, and daughter Katie.
A memorial street sign stands on Victoria Avenue, south of Olivas Park Drive in Ventura.
Largest Hero Sendoff in Ventura County History
“More than 10,000 people turned out Dec. 7, 1993 to give a fallen police officer the largest hero’s sendoff in Ventura County’s history.
Oxnard Police Detective James Edward O’Brien, 35, was buried with full police honors, including a 21-gun salute by the Los Angeles Police Department’s honor guard.
“That Jim O’Brien gave his life as part of his commitment to public service humbles all of us gathered here today,” said Oxnard Police Chief Harold Hurtt. “He was a person like you and me. He had a family, he had many friends, and he had hopes for the future – all of which were cut short by a mindless act of violence.”
In addition to the 5,000 mourners, another 5,000 people lined streets and freeway bridges along the route of the five-mile-long motorcade that carried O’Brien to his final resting place at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.
They were there to celebrate the life of the officer who was shot to death Thursday, Dec. 2, 1993, while pursuing gunman Alan Winterbourne, who had killed three people at the Oxnard employment office.
The Rev. Liam Kidney, who officiated at the funeral Mass, described O’Brien as a “cop’s cop.” “He loved being a cop,” Kidney said. “He loved being where the action was. Being a policeman was his life.”
O’Brien was the third officer of the Oxnard Police Department killed in the line of duty since October 1971.
Born July 30, 1958, in Long Beach, O’Brien was a longtime Ventura County resident.
He was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Peace Officers’ Association of Ventura County in 1991 for saving the life of a resident in La Colonia.
He was a member of the Oxnard Peace Officers’ Association, Ventura County Peace Officers’ Association, Peace Officers’ Research Association of California, and California Narcotics’ Officer Association. O’Brien attended California Lutheran University and was a graduate of Ventura College and Hueneme High School.”
Senior Police Officer John Adair
End of Watch: October 7, 1980
On October 7, 1980, Senior Officer John Adair was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute. Despite being mortally wounded, Senior Officer Adair, and his partner, Officer Johnny Gomez, were able to return fire and kill the suspect. Senior Officer Adair’s wife was on a ride a long with him at the time and witnessed the shooting. Senior Officer Adair is survived by his wife, Patti, and two children. One of his children, Kevin, later became an Oxnard Police Officer.
Officer Fredrick John Clark
End of Watch: October 12, 1971
On October 12th, 1971, Officer Clark was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance.
Frederick J. Clark was born in Orange, New Jersey, on August 23, 1943. He moved to the San Fernando area in 1946 with his family. He attended and graduated from Birmingham High School, Van Nuys, California. He attended Los Angeles Pierce College in Los Angeles, California, and he was enrolled in classes at Ventura College at the time of his death.
Prior to accepting a position with the Oxnard Police Department, Officer Clark had been employed by Hughes Markets from 1960 to 1969.
In the twenty-seven months that Officer Clark served the community, he received numerous letters of commendation from citizens praising his fairness, alertness and humanity. He had been chosen as one of the Department’s representatives at the “Rap Sessions” held in the Colonia area earlier in the year.
He was always held in high esteem by his fellow officers who continually commended his willingness and sincerity in helping others.
“Officer Frederick J. Clark was born in Orange, New Jersey, on August 23, 1943. He moved to the San Fernando area in 1946 with his family. He attended and graduated from Birmingham High School, Van Nuys, California. He attended Los Angeles Pierce College in Los Angeles, California, and he was presently enrolled in classes at Ventura College.
Prior to accepting a position with the Oxnard Police Department, Officer Clark had been employed by Hughes Markets from 1960 to 1969. At this time, he accepted a position as a police officer with the City of Oxnard.
During the time he was with the Oxnard Police Department, Officer Clark made many contributions and achievements, including graduation from the Ventura College Police Academy, Drivers Training certificates from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Operation and Use of Breathalyzer, and First Aid from the National Red Cross. Officer Clark received certificates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for Chemical Agents Training, Law Enforcement Officers Training School in Contemporary Police Problems at Moorpark College for Urban Warfare Institute, from the National Safety Council for participation in the Defensive Driving Schools, and from the Peace Officers Standards and Training for completion of required courses for Police Officers.
In the twenty-seven months that Officer Clark served the community, he received numerous letters of commendation from citizens praising his fairness, alertness and humanity. He had been chosen as one of the Department’s representatives at the “Rap Sessions” held in the Colonia area earlier in the year.
He was always held in high esteem by his fellow officers who continually commended his willingness and sincerity in helping others.
Officer Clark will be deeply missed, not only by his wife, daughter, family, friends, and fellow officers, but also by the community for which he gave his life to serve and protect.”
Officer Albert Gasperetti
End of Watch: April 15, 1956
Died from injuries sustained in a November, 1950 motor vehicle accident.
Ventura County Star, Mon, Apr 16, 1956
Oxnard police detective Albert Gasperetti, in ill health much of the time since being struck by a speeding car while directing traffic in November, 1950, died last night of a heart attack at his home. He was 43.
Born in Gardiner, N.M., Aug. 8, 1943 [sic], Gasperetti is survived by his widow, … and a son … . The family lived at 421 Nyeland avenue, Nyeland Acres.
Gasperetti came to the county in 1942 and joined the county in 1942 and joined the Port Hueneme navy base security police. He rose to captain of the police and later chief of detectives there.
In 1948, he joined the Oxnard police department, rising to the post of detective two years ago.
A member of the Elks lodge, Elks pistol club and of the California police officers association, he was one of the organizers of the boys junior rifle club.”
Constable William E. Kelley
End of Watch: August 20, 1921
Shot and killed in Owensmouth (Canoga Park) while serving a murder arrest warrant.
Constable William E. Kelley Killed
“Los Angeles, Aug. 20 — Fighting a desperate gun battle with a Mexican named Durano whom they attempted to arrest in the Mexican quarter of Owensmouth at noon today, Deputy Sheriff (sic) Kelley of Oxnard was shot and is believed to have been fatally wounded and Sheriff E. G. McMartin of Ventura County was shot and killed by the man.
After shooting the two officers Durano who was wanted on a warrant issued at Ventura fled into a bean field pursued by 100 ranchers and citizens of Owensmouth. When the posse finally came upon him it was found he had shot and killed himself.
An ambulance from the Hollywood police station was sent to Owensmouth to remove Kelley to the Los Angeles receiving hospital.
The two officers entered the Mexican settlement at Owensmouth a few minutes before noon and approached the house where Durano was hiding. As they served the warrant on the man it is said he whipped out a large revolver and began firing. One of the bullets went through the body of Kelley. As McMartin fired at Durano the fugitive fired and McMartin fell to the ground.”
Deputy Constable Andrew M. McNaughton
End of Watch: March 23, 1906
Shot and killed while on foot patrol in the former Tenderloin District of Oxnard.
Excerpt from the Ventura Free Press, March 23, 1906
VIGILANT NIGHT WATCHMAN MEETS DEATH AT HANDS OF COWARDLY THUGS MURDER CALLS FOR PROMPT ACTION
“A night watchman of the city of Oxnard and a gallant officer, was found murdered during the hours of Friday night and his body was found in the muddy alley of the Chinatown quarters at an early hour this morning. There is absolutely no clue as to the identity of the assassins. McNaughton has been a terror to evil and only recently raided a gambling den…
McNaughton was a married man with four small children.”
Excerpt from the Ventura Free Press, November 5, 1909
McNaughton’s Killer Taken Into Custody
“The murder of brave and fearless Officer Andrew M. McNaughton will in all probability be avenged.
The long arm of the law has reached out and has gathered the skulking wretch who from undeniable evidence, brutally murdered a faithful officer in the discharge of duty.
Manuel Fabela, a Mexican, gun-fighter, ex-convict and all around bad man cowers in a guarded cell in the county jail and must answer for one of the most fiendish crimes ever committed in this county.
Three years a fugitive of justice, Manuel Fabela has at last been run to earth through the unceasing efforts and constant vigilance of Sheriff McMartin.”
