Policy Text
OBATION
VC FOCUS
VENTURA COUNTY FENTANYL AND OVERDOSE CRIMES UNITS
OFFICE
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ARD PO
VENTUR
POLICE
US
OFFICE
PALICE BITER
OFFICER
Memorandum of Understanding
Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is to establish the responsibilities
of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office ("VCSO"), the participating agencies of the Ventura
County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units ("VC FOCUS") and the commitment to working
together toward the mutual goal of the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of persons and
criminal organizations who are engaged in the sale, transportation, or furnishing of Fentanyl to the
communities within Ventura County. VC FOCUS will also actively investigate overdoses and
prosecute those individuals culpable in the deaths to the fullest extent of the law.
The Ventura County Sheriff, District Attorney, and Chief Probation Officer are committed to
bringing the vast resources of County Government to aid these investigations and prosecutions in
each incorporated city, state property, and the unincorporated areas of Ventura County. Through
the sharing of resources and investigators, together we can fulfill the mission of VC FOCUS and
protect the residents of Ventura County.
Mission Statement: The Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS)
actively addresses overdoses and fentanyl related crimes in Ventura County through enforcement,
prevention, education, and partnerships. Investigations by VC FOCUS create accountability,
education supports prevention, and public partnerships assist in fostering increased awareness of
this epidemic. VC FOCUS is comprised of two units of law enforcement representation from the
east and west side of Ventura County.
Vision Statement: VC FOCUS will be relentless in our efforts at making our communities safe
from fentanyl and other opioids. Through partnerships with COAST (County Opioid Abuse
Suppression Task Force), Federal, State and Local Law enforcement, the Justice System and
Community, VC FOCUS will strive to eliminate the root cause to addiction and deaths caused by
illicit opioids.
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Participating Agencies
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Ventura County District Attorney's Office
。 Ventura County Probation Agency
O O O O O O O
O
O O O O O
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
California Highway Patrol
California State University Channel Islands Police Department
Oxnard Police Department
Port Hueneme Police Department
Santa Paula Police Department
Simi Valley Police Department
Ventura County Community College Police Department
Ventura Police Department
VC FOCUS Command Structure-
A. Executive Committee- The Ventura County Law Enforcement Coordinating
Committee (VCLECC) is comprised of the Ventura County Sheriff, Chiefs of Police
from each law enforcement agency in Ventura County, and the District Attorney.
VCLECC will act as the VC FOCUS Executive Committee. The Special Services
Assistant Sheriff will report information on VC FOCUS to the Sheriff for reporting to
VCLECC.
B. Management- The Ventura Sheriff's Narcotics Captain will manage VC FOCUS and
will maintain direct communication with the management of agency participants. The
Narcotics Captain will provide general oversight, ensure adherence to policy, and
ensure best practices are being followed.
C. Supervision- Each of the two teams within VC FOCUS will be supervised by a
Sergeant from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. These sergeants will supervise
criminal investigations, ensure operational safety, maintain statistics, and prepare
monthly reports.
Any participating agency can assign a sergeant, or equivalent supervisory level
participant, to VC FOCUS. These supervisors will share in the supervisory
responsibility under the management of the Sheriff's Narcotics Captain.
D. Investigators- Each participating agency may assign qualified investigators/detectives
to VC FOCUS for a minimum of one year. The investigators shall work under the
immediate supervision of the VC FOCUS sergeants. While assigned to VC FOCUS,
investigators shall remain subject to the policies, procedures, and directives of their
employing agencies.
Investigators/Detectives may possess undercover documents supporting covert
identities used to enhance operations and investigations. The procurement, utilization,
and control of these documents shall be the responsibility of the investigator's
employing agency.
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Funding
Investigators who do not meet acceptable standards of performance or who refuse to
comply with policies and procedures may be removed from VC FOCUS by the
Narcotics Captain. The Narcotics Captain shall discuss the issue with the investigator's
employing agency.
If the employing agency does not agree with the action, the contested issue shall be
forwarded to the collective department heads for final resolution. Resolution of
operational problems at the lowest level is desirable and is in the best overall interest
of the unit.
VC FOCUS was created as a task force model to combat the Fentanyl epidemic in a collaborative
manner and reduce overdoses county wide. Each participating agency is responsible for the salary,
benefits, overtime, vehicle, equipment, and other costs related to their assigned investigator(s).
The County of Ventura does not have any funding in place or obligation to reimburse any agency
participating in VC FOCUS. In the event that additional or supplemental funding is made
available, the Narcotics Captain will manage the grant or funding in the best interest of VC
FOCUS. The Executive Committee will make decisions based on any future grants or funding
that is made available to VC FOCUS.
Vehicles, Equipment, and Facilities
Each participating agency shall provide its members with an unmarked vehicle for use during this
assignment. This vehicle shall be equipped with a police radio and capable of being operated as
an emergency vehicle. The participating agency will be