Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites announced that after having completed 33 years of service on November 1, 2026, he will retire that week. His final day in office will be November 3, with a retirement date of November 4.
As part of the department’s leadership transition, City Manager Alexander Nguyen is appointing Assistant Chief Rocky Marquez as the department’s 23rd Police Chief.
“On behalf of the Oxnard community, we thank Chief Benites for his steadfast leadership of the department over the past six years and his decades of service dedicated to keeping Oxnard safe,” said Nguyen. “We’re fortunate to have strong leadership within our Police Department, and I am confident that Rocky Marquez will continue the department’s commitment to excellence and service to our community as our next Police Chief.”
Born and raised in Oxnard and Port Hueneme, Marquez is a proud graduate of Hueneme High School. He began his career with the Oxnard Police Department in 2002. As a 24-year veteran of the department, he has worked his way up through the ranks, beginning as a Patrol Officer before becoming a Sergeant. Marquez was promoted to Commander in 2022, where he oversaw investigative services, and was then promoted to Assistant Police Chief in 2025, where he leads the Investigative and Administrative Services Bureaus.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve as Oxnard’s next Police Chief and to continue serving the community that raised me and where I have spent my entire law enforcement career,” said Marquez. “I look forward to building upon this department’s strong foundation, and I am incredibly proud to serve alongside our dedicated officers and professional staff who work tirelessly each day to keep our community safe. Together we will honor the trust placed in us and make Oxnard proud.”
In recent years, Oxnard has experienced significant reductions in crime. In 2025, reported violent crime decreased nearly 10% compared to 2023, while property crime fell 13.4% compared to 2024.
As Police Chief, Marquez will lead a department of 371 employees, which includes 242 sworn officer positions and 129 full-time professional staff positions.
In his retirement announcement, Chief Benites emphasized the importance of developing internal leaders and sustaining a strong culture of community service. “One of my goals as Chief has been to build and prepare a strong leadership team capable of guiding this agency forward,” said Benites. “We have that. Today, I can confidently say we have the talent, teamwork, vision, and drive to ensure a great transition. Our team will continue to work hard to provide outstanding public safety service delivery to Oxnard, and a safe future for our community.”