OXNARD : Council OKs Changes in Police Department

Five vacant crossing-guard positions were eliminated Tuesday by the Oxnard City Council, which then authorized the police chief to create two administrative positions and hire a street cop to counsel teen-agers.

Another four crossing guards will be let go before July, 1995, under the restructuring approved Tuesday.

Officials from two local schools told the council that they did not oppose the cutback in the number of crossing guards as long as the safety of students was not jeopardized.

But a union official chastised the council for agreeing to hire more administrators and let rank-and-file union employees go.

“Somehow that doesn’t seem to be going in the right direction,” said Barry Hammitt, executive director of the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County.

Police Chief Harold Hurtt told the council that the positions, including the addition of a third assistant police chief, were needed to better administer the department.

Councilman Michael A. Plisky noted that the department did away with an assistant police chief position several years ago in a downsizing effort, but he voted for the change minutes later upon Hurtt’s recommendation.

“I guess the proof will be in the pudding,” Plisky said.

The Police Department plans to hire a youth services officer to counsel junior high school students about the dangers of drug use and gang affiliation.