Department Returning to Normalcy

They are already naming a Durley Park softball field and two police athletic events after him. His photo hangs in the department’s ultimate place of honor--the memorial wall. And flowers poke out of his mailbox alongside a miniature Marine flag.

The reminders of Officer James Rex Jensen Jr.’s career at the Oxnard Police Department are all there.

But at the same time, the bands of black are gone from officers’ badges, Jensen’s locker has been cleaned out and badge No. 102 has been permanently retired.

One day after Jensen’s funeral, and six days after he was mistakenly gunned down by Sgt. Daniel Christian during a drug raid, the Oxnard Police Department is returning to normalcy.

“We’ve got lives to lead, a department to run and service to provide,” Cmdr. John Crombach said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Although the department never shut down to mourn its loss, many things were shoved onto the back burner, said Det. Ralph Nieves, who has two tall stacks of documents in his in-basket.

“These are more than 100 cases that have piled up since the shooting,” Nieves said. “I had to put them aside while I was involved in the investigation. Now I’m playing catch-up.”

But for many, the simple task of putting on their uniform in preparation for work was no longer so simple.

“It was hard,” Officer Mike Gregson said as he got into his patrol car Tuesday and drove away.

*

Moments later Gregson returned and leaned out the car window.

“One thing that would make it easier would be to see Sgt. Christian around. We’d all like to know that he’s doing better, that he can get past this. That would help.”

Christian’s well-being is a major concern for many of the department’s foot soldiers. For many, his healing is a barometer for how quickly the whole department can get past the tragedy. The symbolism of the devastated sergeant in his SWAT uniform sitting beside Jensen’s widow throughout the funeral was lost on no one, officers said.

“Seeing him so close to Jenny Jensen and wearing his SWAT uniform showed me that all of us are capable of getting through this,” Officer Mike Williamson said. “I was worried if he’d ever put that uniform on again. I’m sure it was difficult for him, but by putting it on, he took that first healing step for all of us.”

Jennifer Jensen’s willingness to forgive Christian was a pivotal moment for many, Williamson said.

“She let us know she understands what we do and that mistakes can be made . . . and that she still wants to be part of our family,” he said. “It takes a lot of strength on Jenny’s part not to blame . . . and that has helped a lot of us.”

*

Until the funeral, Williamson said, he wasn’t sure when he could return to work.

“Now I know I am ready,” he said.

Officer Bill Lewis, who was Jensen’s tactical team leader, said he still feels ambivalent about putting on his SWAT uniform again.

“I don’t feel like [wearing] it yet, but I would if I had to,” Lewis said. “These are sad times, but we still have a job to do.”

But when it came to working with Christian again, the ambivalence was gone.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to have him be my backup,” he said. “Not for a minute.”

Since last week’s shooting, the Ventura Police Department has been on call to handle Oxnard’s SWAT calls. But after a debriefing today, Lewis and the 20 other members of the SWAT team will once again have to respond to high-risk emergencies, Crombach said.

The unit, however, will be short one officer.

“We have to replace Jim,” Crombach said. “We’ll need to recruit another officer.”

That new member will probably inherit some of the SWAT equipment cleared out of Jensen’s locker.

Said Crombach, “I imagine that will be quite an honor.”