OXNARD : Lungren Appears on Police Cable Show

California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren made a special appearance on the Oxnard Police Department’s televised crime prevention show, “Street Beat,” Thursday to talk about crime and community-based policing.

Although the show usually broadcasts live, Lungren’s 23-minute interview with Police Chief Harold Hurtt and spokesman David Keith was taped and will air April 11 at 8 p.m. on Channel 19, Keith said.

Keith said that although the taped interview was brief, Lungren chatted for nearly an hour about various crime issues.

“He talked about community policing . . . about how the criminal justice system is not going to do it all,” Keith said. “We could have gone all day. We only kind of scratched the surface.”

Jones Intercable, which broadcasts the show as a community service, contacted Lungren’s office about three weeks ago, asking him to appear on “Street Beat.”

“I have met the attorney general before,” said Mary McCurdy, director of business development for Jones Intercable.

“He has been a big supporter of programs like these.”

“Street Beat” began nine years ago to provide Oxnard residents with crime prevention information. The show airs every Monday night for 90 minutes in English and every other Tuesday night in Spanish.

Keith said the purpose of having California’s chief law enforcement officer on the program was twofold: “We want him to know what we do here because it’s unique, and to have him give his viewpoint on community policing and citizen involvement.”