The Oxnard Rampage : O’Brien Trust Funds Set Up

More than $8,575 has poured into trust funds set up for the family of slain Oxnard Police Detective James E. O’Brien and his favorite community projects.

Debbie Harman, a branch manager for the Channel Islands National Bank, said contributions ranged from a $1.07 check from an anonymous donor to another for $1,000 from the Center Point Mall.

The Bank of A. Levy and the Channel Islands National Bank are both accepting money for the Jim E. O’Brien Memorial Trust Fund. The money for the memorial fund will be used to support some of the projects O’Brien worked hard on such as keeping children out of gangs and fighting graffiti.

Another fund for O’Brien’s wife and two young children is being administered by the Channel Islands National Bank.

Channel Islands said it had received a total of $6,800, and the Bank of A. Levy reported receiving $1,775 in contributions so far for the memorial funds.

Bank officials said they have received well over 100 cards of condolence along with the money for the family. Officials said the contributions come from an array of community members.

“One of the contributions that sticks in my mind was from a boy who came in on Friday,” Harman said.

*

“He was probably 15 or 16, and he wanted to make a contribution,” Harman said. “I guessed he wanted to talk to someone because he was standing around for so long. He said he’d once gotten caught by O’Brien spraying graffiti in Oxnard and pledged to me that he was going to graduate from high school for Jim.”

Donors should indicate on their checks if the money is going to the memorial trust fund or the O’Brien family. All branches of the two banks will accept contributions, or they may be mailed to Channel Islands National Bank, 155 South A St., Oxnard 93030, or the Bank of A. Levy, 2575 Vista Del Mar Drive, Ventura 93001.