By Raul Hernandez
[email protected]
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA — An internal administrative investigation is underway at the Oxnard Police Department regarding allegations surrounding a so-called shooting tattoo that some officers put on their left shoulder after they have been involved in shootings with a suspects.
A former Oxnard police officer told American Justice Notebook that smoke can be added onto the tattoo, coming out of the barrel, when the shooting is fatal. He provided the names of nine officers who allegedly have “earned” these tattoos- two are retired and two of the officers are commanders with the Oxnard Police Department.
Two of the officers named were involved in fatal shootings, in 1994 and 2001.
These names were provided to Police Chief Jeri Williams.
The Oxnard police policy manual prohibits the “display” of offensive, obscene, racial, sexual and discriminatory tattoos.
In a statement issued Monday, Chief Williams said an internal administrative investigation surrounding the alleged tattoos was in progress.
“Once the investigation is concluded, and the facts determined, your multiple questions can and will be addressed by the Department.” Chief Williams stated. “If the facts reveal the requirement for training and/or more focused remedial action, it shall be promptly undertaken.”
If the allegations about the tattoos are true, American Justice Notebook wanted to know if the community should be concerned as to whether the shooting-tattoo mindset still exists among some officers? Also are there any civil rights concerns involving due process in police involved shootings if these attitudes continue among some officers?
Mayor Tim Flynn, Councilwoman Carmen Ramirez and Councilman Bryan MacDonald are aware of the allegations.
Oxnard police officers have in past years been involved in several shootings, including the most recent fatal shooting of Alfonso Limon Jr. who unwittingly walked into a running gun battle between a wanted parolee and police in October, according to authorities.
The city of Oxnard had to pay $6.7 million to settle the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Limon’s family which is the largest wrongful death settlement the city of Oxnard has paid. Limon was shot between 16 to 21 times by four officers as he lay on the ground, according to the Limon family lawyer Adam Shea.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the shooting of Limon and ruled that it was “legally justified and not a criminal act.”
The former Oxnard police officer who recently left the department said he saw the tattoos on the officers. He made a drawing of what the “shooting” tattoo look like. He said the tattoos were probably purchased from a tattoo shop in Port Hueneme because that is where Oxnard officers go to get tattooed.
He also said he has never been involved in a shooting and left the Oxnard Police Department in good terms. The former Oxnard officer said he didn’t want his named used for fear of retaliation.
In its report on the October shooting that killed Limon, the District Attorney’s Office stated:
“The review included more than 5,000 pages of reports and documents, transcripts of interviews of police and civilian witnesses, diagrams, photographs, video recordings, numerous recorded interviews, recordings of radio transmissions, examination of the scene of the shooting and consultation with a use of force expert. All nine officers involved in the shooting gave voluntary interviews about their actions during the shooting,” according to a report by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Earlier this month, District Attorney Greg Totten stated that his office sent the report to state and federal authorities.
“The District Attorney has forwarded copies of the entire file to the California Attorney General and United States Attorney and invited an independent review the shootings,” he stated.
To review the entire report: The Oct. 13, 2013 Shooting