Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Bob Brooks has announced that Commander Dennis Carpenter, the acting Chief of Police for the City of Thousand Oaks, will be appointed to Chief Deputy effective February 8, 2009.

Commander Carpenter’s law enforcement career, which spans over 34 years, began with the Port Hueneme Police Department before joining the Sheriff’s Department in 1977. Since joining the Department, he has worked a variety of assignments, which have included patrol and the Special Enforcement Detail in East County both as a deputy and sergeant; the Training Center in Camarillo, and Sheriff’s Personnel. He was also a Resident Deputy in Lockwood Valley.

Commander Carpenter also spent several stints in Detention Services, in addition to having been assigned as a patrol watch commander. In 1995, he was promoted to Lieutenant (later to be titled Captain) where he managed the Narcotics Unit and oversaw the transition to the Countywide Narcotics Task Force (VCAT). Commander Carpenter later managed Internal Affairs within the Professional Standards Bureau. By March 2001, he was promoted to Commander and managed the Court Services Bureau until his transfer to the City of Thousand Oaks where he currently serves as the acting Chief of Police.

In 1976, Commander Carpenter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from California Lutheran University and in 2002 earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. On a personal note, he has been married for 35 years and has two children, five grandchildren with number six due in March. When not at work he enjoys snow skiing, hiking, and fishing.
Sheriff Brooks indicated that Dennis Carpenter’s successful tenure as the acting Chief of Police in Thousand Oaks, coupled with his varied experience, and excellent reputation throughout the department and community make him an ideal selection to succeed retiring Chief Deputy Chris Godfrey as the leader of all Sheriff’s patrol operations.