City’s Lead Officer Leaving for New Post

Lt. Geoff Dean, Moorpark’s top law enforcement officer, is being transferred to an administrative post at the new county jail on Todd Road.

Dean, 37, a 16-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, has headed the department’s 20-member Moorpark enforcement division for three years. He also headed the department’s 25-member SWAT team until a few months ago.

During his tenure in Moorpark, that department has received praise for its work combatting gangs and developing crime-prevention programs, said Cmdr. Bruce McDowell, who has overseen Dean as commander of all patrol divisions in the East County Sheriff’s Department.

“Geoff has been a tremendous chief of police for Moorpark,” McDowell said. “He’s developed a great partnership with the city and private businesses in town. He’s known in the department as an innovator. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him advance on up to commander or to whatever else he wants to do.”

McDowell said Dean could take some credit for Moorpark having the lowest crime rate in Ventura County for the last two years. He said that since Dean took charge of the division three years ago, there has been a 50% reduction in reported gang crimes.

The department is expected to announce Dean’s successor today, pending approval by Moorpark city staff, McDowell said. Lt. Marty Rouse, a detective in the Moorpark division, is the top candidate, he said.