Jason Benites

Jason Benites is Oxnard’s 22nd Chief of Police. Prior to joining the Oxnard Police Department in 1993, he studied at the United States Naval Academy from 1986-1988, and graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1992. During his career as a Police Officer he worked in the Patrol Division, and served as a Field Training Officer and bicycle patrol officer. He was one of three officers who opened a community storefront in Downtown Oxnard (now known as the Central Business District). Upon his promotion to Senior Police Officer, he served as a Beat Coordinator and as a detective. Jason returned to the Field Services Bureau in 2001 as a patrol Sergeant before supervising detectives in the Oxnard Violent Crimes Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional team that partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to address gang violence.
In 2003, he returned to the Field Services Bureau as one of four watch commanders, and served in the Patrol Support Division. During his time as a commander, he played a role in developing the Neighborhood Policing Strategy, a staffing plan whose purpose was to further strengthen the Oxnard Police Department’s community policing and problem-solving practices.
After his promotion to Assistant Chief in 2006, Jason served the department in this role for 14 years, during which time he managed all of its bureaus: six years in Field Services and eight years across Investigative and Administrative Services. He assumed the role of Police Chief on December 29, 2020.
Chief Benites is a 2008 graduate of the California POST Command College. He has also served on the California Police Chiefs Association Board of Directors since 2021. He was their 2026 Joseph Molloy Award recipient for professionalism, leadership, and dedication within the police chief community.