Change in police oversight to affect Lake Sherwood and unincorporated areas

HARVEY KERN/Special to the Acorn TRADE OFF—Capt. Brent Kerr, left, and Capt. Bill Flannigan, both of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, are switching jobs. Kerr will oversee patrol services in the county's unincorporated areas, including Oak Park and parts of Thousand Oaks. Flannigan will take Kerr's job as commander of the county's Criminal Justice Training Center. A new police captain has been assigned to oversee patrol services in Ventura County's unincorporated areas, including Oak Park, Lake Sherwood, Hidden Valley, Lynn Ranch, Bell Canyon and parts of Newbury Park.

Capt. Bill Flannigan and Capt. Brent Kerr of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department are switching jobs. The reassignment is part of the regular staff rotation the department undergoes every two to three years.

Kerr will now be the patrol watch commander for the unincorporated areas and for the county's five contract cities. Flannigan will move into Kerr's former position as commander of the county's Criminal Justice Training Center in Camarillo, where he will oversee new officer and in-service training.

"There are an awful lot of things you can do in the sheriff's department, and all of the jobs are quite different. It's like the military," Flannigan said. "The more you move your management around, the more experience they get in other areas and the broader view they have."

He is especially excited about his new role because construction on a new training center in Camarillo will begin in January. He oversaw construction of a jail in Santa Paula in the early 1990s.

"We've always occupied somebody else's building built for some other purpose. We will have a building within the next two years, hopefully," Flannigan said.

Flannigan has been with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department throughout his 30-year career. After growing up in Oxnard and Ventura, Flannigan, at age 21, enrolled in the department's training program, the same program he will now oversee.

"Without a doubt it's the people I meet from the communities and the quality people I work with in the department that make the job worthwhile," Flannigan said.

Flannigan was honored by the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council for his work in the community and was recognized for his regular attendance at monthly MAC meetings.

"You are always there in a suit with a smile," MAC member Deena Parry said. "You have that assurance about you that reassured us that the community was well taken care of. You are going to be missed."

MAC member Mike Paule thanked Flannigan for always keeping the community informed.

Flannigan introduced his successor. "Capt. Kerr has a great deal of experience," Flannigan said. "You are going to be left in good hands."

Kerr has been with the sheriff 's department for 26 years. A graduate of Camarillo High School, Kerr earned a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and is pursuing a master's in emergency management at California State University Long Beach. He has worked in investigations, special enforcement, personnel, internal affairs, community resource and detention services. As a sergeant, Kerr oversaw the field- and jail-training programs and was the administrative sergeant at two patrol stations. Kerr said he has enjoyed working with the training academy and helping new employees be successful.

"Bill loved what he was doing, and I loved what I was doing, but we also look forward to new assignments so that we can grow and put our mark on new places," Kerr said.

He would like residents to know that he will be responsive to their concerns.

"I understand the neighborhood issues and concerns about being safe. I hope to be an advocate and work with residents," Kerr said. "I think it's important that we're there for people and that we make a positive difference."