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Police officer arrested after investigation into theft
He's jailed briefly in taking money, filing a false report
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More from County NewsAn Oxnard police officer was arrested at his Ventura home Monday night following a two-week investigation into allegations he stole money from an unnamed person in Oxnard.
Matthew Purnell, 27, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and filing a false police report.
Purnell was taken to county jail early Tuesday morning, said Scott Whitney, the assistant chief of the Oxnard Police Department. He was later released after posting $10,000 bail.
Purnell is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Police searched Purnell's home and found "evidence of an additional theft," Whitney said.
Whitney said investigators were told by a citizen in Oxnard that Purnell had stolen money from that person.
"When we got this person's statement, it seemed very credible," Whitney said. "That's one of the reasons why we pursued this investigation as aggressively as we did."
Whitney said the department's internal affairs division received the initial allegation against Purnell. "Because it was criminal in nature, it was passed along to our criminal investigators."
Purnell could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Whitney said the Oxnard Police Department takes accusations such as the one made against Purnell "very seriously."
"Accountability is essential to what we do," he said, adding that without it, the department would not have the trust of the community it is sworn to serve.
Such accusations "tarnish the badge" of the hundreds of police officers who work for the department, Whitney said.
"We hire people of character and integrity to serve our community," he said.
"When we find that we have come up short against that standard, we take immediate action to address the problem."
The department has 238 police officers and 151 civilians on its force, Whitney said.
Whitney said investigators recovered the money Purnell allegedly took.
Posted by daniel.acosta on August 6, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What's new? The Oxnard police department's been doing this for years, they know who they are. They'll pull you out your car, step on your feet and act like children who don't know how to communicate. It really is sad, grown men that don't know how to act. They've been chosen to serve and protect but most of them will do what ever it takes to take someone into custody. First you have an officer accused of rape, then one holding his girlfriend hostage and now one recieving stolen property. To all those officers that choose to treat people with no respect and charge citizens for crimes that weren't commited your time will come.
Posted by george1234 on August 6, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Daniel.acosta. Slow down here buddy. The cops that do wrong get weeded out. 99% of cops are good people who would risk their life to save yours, even if you were a criminal. Before this blog takes off and people start bashing cops and the Oxnard Police Department, give them a high five for weeding this guy out. This cop will pay, most likely far worse than just a regular person doing this. To all those who think cops get off or get special treatment, look at Mr. Perez. He is going to pay for his crimes. Bad apples exist everywhere, praise the Oxnard Police for taking care of theirs!
Posted by daugtherofimmigrant on August 6, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
here we go again, wasn't this yesterday's story??
Posted by kcody on August 6, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OPD is a joke. Killing Beach Patrons. Running Red Lights and Killing Drivers. Raping Mentally Challenged Community Members in Police Substations. "Booty on Duty". And now Organized Theft. That's a lot of bad actors for only 230 officers.
Posted by juniormafia_ny on August 6, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RAMPART DISTRICT!!! I've said it many times, but that is a prime example of people empowered to serve and protect getting away with a lot of things. Maybe the reason this guy was weeded out is because the was substantial evidence that couldn't be covered... I'm no cop hater, but please, don't even assume that 99% of cops have the publics best interest in mind.
Posted by here1st on August 6, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
does anybody feel surprised? alot of cops in our area are this way or just like to beat up on people they feel are beneath them . atleast this guy got caught , thats the most shocking part to me.
Posted by yotonto on August 6, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
daniel.acosta,
You paint a broad brush unfairly. You state that "most do what they want", and you couldn't be more wrong.
kcody,
When you post many items all at the same time, things do look bad. But, when you take them one at a time, and actually see the case factually, it looks alot differently. Especially the 'rape victim' you speak of, it was proven she lied!
This case isn't organized theft, you're just being stupid, he got caught, nothing organized about it.
As to the beach death, that was an unfortunate accident, and not in any way intentional.
Now, the 'Booty on Duty', I got nothing to say here, looks like this is what it is, although we still don't know all the facts entirely.
So, the only joke here is you for trying assemble many cases together to tarnish the OPD unfairly.
juniormafia_ny,
How about 98%...
Posted by juniormafia_ny on August 6, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yotonto, ok, I can accept 98%... lol =)
Posted by patticakepatti on August 6, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If we are just talking Oxnard PD, I would say 98% is high considering the news lately.
Oxnard PD is under the microscope right now and will be for some time. It will be interesting to see what else comes out of the woodwork.
OXNARD PD IS HIRING IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED!
Posted by juniormafia_ny on August 6, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they have to hire with all these officers becoming inactive.
Posted by MidTwn on August 6, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What can we expect from a cop that lives in Ventura and works in Oxnard? "I won't get caught they won't believe those fools from Oxnard."
Posted by thetruthdotcom on August 6, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
George, maybe in your fantasy world "cops who do wrong get weeded out." but most of us in the real world know that ONLY A FRACTION of cops who do wrong get weeded out. glad to see this POS has been thrown under the spotlight.
Posted by patticakepatti on August 6, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"What can we expect from a cop that lives in Ventura and works in Oxnard?"
And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China??? It's a well known fact that most law enforcement officers do not live in the town that they work in for obvious reasons.
Posted by JeannetteMedrano on August 6, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Ole' Oxnard. OPD is sure living up to their reputation aren't they!
Posted by ereeseeneele on August 6, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where's David Keith..... I WANT TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY....
Thanks,
Andrew
Posted by daniel.acosta on August 6, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To Geoorge1234 and yotonto it's quite clear the thing's I've said about the OPD have never happened to you. I've seen this first hand and it's unbelievable. One of the Senior officers stepping on a young man's foot who's fully cooperating with them. While a younger officer's telling this young man come on, you want some.They did this provoking the young man, Thank God the young man knew what they were trying to do and continued cooperating with them while this senior officer stood on top of his foot. As funny as this may sound it's not a joke. If this was you george1234 or yotonto then you might understand or even if you witnessed this like I did you might see things a little different. But you guy's are the types that are 1 sided and that's to bad. I hope you guy's never have any family or friends that get treated like that. The young man didn't even do anything, he was questioned with the officer on his foot, cuffed, and then released.Thing's like this continue to happen and continue to be overlooked. Yotonto stated when you post things all at the same time "they do look bad". This ain't nothing, this is just coming from One young man. We can go on and on with the OPD. Officer Brisslinger was One officer I can say had class and treated people with respect. That's sad his names been tainted do to the accident on the beach and due to his ex partner trying to rape little girls. Hey yotonto, don't be a TONTO and stick up for people you don't even know. Their are good officers, But OPD's over shadowed with tainted cops.
Posted by lilmamma on August 6, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police seem to busy doing everything but their jobs. A police officer was arrested this week for a hate crime and now this one gets arrested for theft. There are stabbings and shootings in Camarillo, Ventura, and Oxnard almost every week.OPD and all these other departments need to protect the citizens of their cities instead of being criminals themselves.
Posted by caddieman805 on August 6, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
another one bits the dust. It's about time some of these jerks get in trouble and caught!
Posted by UCSBguy on August 6, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes OPD is hiring you know why? because people like kcody who keeps calling 911 for ludicrous reasons like ooh I lost my keys oooh I got stabbed because I'm a gangster.
Daniel how can it be overshadowed? It's probably overshadowed because of people like you. If they're all doing a good job and one messed up, those officers who's doing a good job gets overshadowed even though only one messed up.
When the star published that article about officers getting awarded, only like 5 people commented but when this thing happened, everybody wants to say something like they know what's going on.
Posted by lakerboy805 on August 6, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OPD is always taking my bags of weed from me..you know they smoke it..
Posted by try_mee_76 on August 6, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OPD is great...it's those one or two bad cops that make a bad rep for the rest. OPD is doing what they are supposed to do with criminals. If they were anything like Rampart you wouldn't know about it because it would be hush...hush and everyone up to the chief would be involved. Cop haters stop hatting...when you and your homies start getting shot...who do you call...no not Ghostbusters...911!!!
Posted by Adam_Monroe on August 6, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oxnard PD is great. I truly do trust my safety with them...
Posted by high_society on August 6, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been pulled over by OPD for speeding (yes, i was speeding at the time) and I was treated respectful.
I have 3 friends that serve in OPD, one is a high school friend who I've known for over 13 years.
When one cop does something bad, yes, it looks bad as an image as a whole because they are representing the police department.
This just means that Officer Matthew Purnell should be held to higher standards and stricter punishments, not that we need to blame the entire department.
Posted by ereeseeneele on August 6, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A lot of OPD are just a bunch of MAGGOTS... Just some punks with a badge... But there are some very honorable gentlemen... But when they are shootin people multiple times in the back... blah blah blah... You kind of lose your sense of security... How do you know the one that pulls you over isnt a crooked cop...
IM WAITING FOR A ANSWER MR KEITH!... Straight to You... You think OPD WILL MAKE IT ON THERE!!
Thanks
Andrew :)
Posted by yotonto on August 6, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ereeseeneele,
Who was shot multiple times in the back?
Posted by pfg93003 on August 6, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey cop, who's the scumbag now!
Posted by UCSBguy on August 6, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ereeseeneele maybe he deserved to get shot. those kind of people need to be taken out of gene pool.
Still bitter about that andrew? ahahahaha
Posted by yotonto on August 7, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
daniel.acosta,
First of all, your grammar and spelling is atrocious!
It's obvious you didn't do well in english class, probably because you didn't pay attention.
I'm sorry the cops were stepping on your foot trying to get you to talk. Did they put the cuffs on too tight?
You are typical of a poster that doesn't have all the facts, before he speaks. Nothing but misinformation from you.
Also, who was I sticking up for?
I don't know how old you are, But, your posts suggest you are very young and dumb.
Go back to school. It's never too late.
Posted by yotonto on August 7, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
daniel.acosta,
First of all, your grammar and spelling is atrocious!
It's obvious you didn't do well in english class, probably because you didn't pay attention.
I'm sorry the cops were stepping on your foot trying to get you to talk. Did they put the cuffs on too tight?
You are typical of a poster that doesn't have all the facts, before he speaks. Nothing but misinformation from you, especially about the rape.
Also, who was I sticking up for?
I don't know how old you are, but, your posts suggest you are very young and dumb.
Go back to school. It's never too late.
Posted by budmanandy1 on August 8, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
all you people bashing OPD but when you need help they are going to be the first people you call. Lets get over the beach thing, it's getting old...they say that people who are angry at the police are people who have broken some kind of law in the past.They are doing there job.All types of business have problems with their employees not just the police, and i'm sure some of you have done something at work they you shouldn't have. Keep up the good work OPD.
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