Captain Eric Tennessen.

On September 10, 2019, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the addition of a third assistant sheriff position. Sheriff Bill Ayub is proud to announce the promotion of Commander Dave Murray to fill this role. In announcing the appointment, Sheriff Ayub said, “The addition of a third assistant sheriff position will allow me to realign organizational responsibilities and address key issues that will place the Sheriff’s Office in a better position to serve our community in a more efficient and proactive approach.”

Commander Dave Murray is a long-time resident of Ventura and has deep roots in the community. Dave attended St. Bonaventure High School and Ventura College, before he went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Southwest University. Dave graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s police academy and later transferred to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in 1990. During Dave’s nearly thirty years with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, he worked a variety of assignments ranging from patrol and investigative work to overseeing SWAT, the Canine Unit, and the academy.

As a Commander, Dave was assigned to the Support Services Bureau where he oversaw Professional Standards/Internal Affairs, Audit & Inspections, and the academy. He was selected as the Chief of Police for the city of Camarillo in 2017, and he currently serves in this capacity. Dave and his wife Lisa still reside in Ventura and they have three sons.

Commander Murray’s appointment to assistant sheriff created an open commander position. Captain Eric Tennessen will be promoted to fill this position. Eric was born and raised in South Dakota before moving to California. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from California State University at Northridge. Eric is a twenty-one-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, Eric gained extensive experience in patrol, investigations, and special enforcement units.

As a Captain, Eric worked as a patrol watch commander before transferring to Thousand Oaks. In 2017, Eric was selected as the Chief of Police for the city of Fillmore where he has served for the last eighteen months. Eric and his wife Kaylee reside in Camarillo with their four children.

Sergeant Carlos Macias will be promoted to the position of captain behind Captain Tennessen’s promotion. Carlos is a thirty-one-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. He has worked a variety of assignments over the years ranging from patrol and custody to the Crime Suppression Unit, Major Crimes Bureau, Narcotics Bureau, and the SWAT team. Carlos was born and raised in Nebraska and he currently resides in Ventura with his wife, Carrianne, and their son.