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Moorpark Police Chief Moving to New Assignment
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Tuesday, November 13th, 2012
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department After nearly five years as the chief of police of Moorpark, Captain Ron Nelson is moving to another assignment within the Sheriff’s Office beginning in January 2013. Ron has not just been the chief of police of Moorpark. His hard work and dedication have been woven into the very fabric of the city itself. Over the span of his career, Ron has left an indelible mark on the city. He began working as a patrol deputy assigned to Moorpark in 1989, and worked there for four years before being assigned as a detective in the city. After working for several years as a detective and patrol supervisor, Ron returned again as the administrative sergeant for two years. Ron was also a resident of Moorpark for many years, so he has developed a personal connection with the city. As the chief of police, Ron has helped steer Moorpark to an overall drop in crime of 34% in the past five years. He has strengthened partnerships with the community and increased the Volunteers in Policing program. When Ron began his tenure as chief of police, the biggest complaint he received from residents was about graffiti. In 2007, there were 212 reports of graffiti in the city. So far in 2012, there have been 43 reports of graffiti, thanks to an anti-graffiti program he helped develop. Mayor Janice Parvin, while saddened to see Ron move on, expressed her appreciation for all that’s been accomplished through his leadership. She noted he was recognized as Public Servant of the Year in 2010 by the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Parvin especially enjoyed that Captain Nelson had really immersed himself in the community. He attended almost every community event to support and help out even when his attendance as chief of police didn’t require it. She noted that Ron is the kind of person that is always there to serve the community. Ron leaves behind some very big shoes to fill, and selecting the right person to be chief of police has not been an easy one. After considering qualified candidates recommended by Sheriff Dean, City Manager Steve Kueny has selected Captain Steve Wade. Captain Wade has more than 33 years of dedicated service with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and Steve will bring tremendous operational experience to the city. Steve currently manages the Investigations Bureau at the East County Sheriff’s Station, as well as the Special Enforcement Unit assigned to the city of Thousand Oaks. Steve has a diverse law enforcement background in a variety of disciplines from tactical operations to strategic planning. He has many years of SWAT and K-9 experience, as well as managing the Sheriff’s Headquarters Patrol Station and the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, where he managed hundreds of personnel and multi-million-dollar budgets. Steve has collaborated with many private and public organizations to enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to communities throughout Ventura County. The transition will take place during the next two months, with Captain Steve Wade assuming the responsibilities of chief of police sometime in January 2013. Nature of Incident: Moorpark Police Chief Moving to New Assignment |
