JAMIE SKEETERS--A LIFETIME OF GOOD WILL

Jamie Skeeters 1941-2007 - Obituary

January 28th, 2007

Jamie Skeeters, a retired commander with the Oxnard Police Department passed away suddenly Jan. 24, 2007, while away on business in Memphis, Tenn.

Jamie was born March 14, 1941, in Muleshoe, Texas, to Gladys Skeeters. He was a resident of Ventura County for more than 40 years. He was very proud to be a U.S. Marine. He served as acting gunny/sergeant from 1961 to 1966. Before joining the Oxnard Police Department, he served as director of Boys Clubs in Oxnard from 1966 through 1967. In 1967 he joined the Oxnard Police Department and rose quickly through the ranks, achieving the rank of commander in 1993. Jamie served in that capacity until May 1996, when he retired with nearly 30 years of service to the Oxnard community. After his retirement he continued on to serve as chief of police for Ventura College.

While employed with the police department, Jamie was named Officer of the Year for bravery and performance in 1972. He was a founding member of Oxnard Police Department SWAT team, Oxnard Peace Officers Association and the Oxnard Mounted Patrol. He was a member of Ventura County Narcotics Task Force and a member of the president’s special task force for narcotics enforcement in Mexico. He continued with his education, earning a bachelor’s degree with the University of Redlands.

Jamie served the Oxnard community throughout his adult life. He touched thousands of lives and was especially well-known for his wonderful sense of humor. He was truly a character and someone you didn’t forget meeting.

Midway through his career, Jamie became a licensed polygraph examiner. In 1981, he founded Security Consultant Services. This is where Jamie’s passion for truth and justice flourished. His dedication to educate the community on the importance and necessity of the polygraph was awe-inspiring. His mantra states it all, “In God we trust. All others, we polygraph.” He was a founding member on the governor’s task force against sex offenders. It was his hope that this unique approach by administering polygraph examinations on sex offenders would help locate victims of sexual abuse and assist them with the necessary support system for rehabilitation. He was a consultant for Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Santa Barbara Police Department and fire agencies by conducting polygraphs on prospective employees as part of the background check process and special investigations for not only the police and fire agencies but for high-profile individuals, private corporations, military JAG Unit, numerous law firms, television studios including Paramount Studios’ Dr. Phil show, Sci-Fi, Fox news, MSNBC and many more too numerous to list.

Jamie was especially proud to be a member of the California Association of Polygraph Examiners. He served as their president from 2003 to 2005, vice president from 2001 to 2002 and was a member of the board of directors from 1999 to 2005. Jamie loved this part of his career.

Jamie had many incredible experiences in his life, including being caught in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jamie was seriously injured in that event.

He spent many years living in the Ojai area with his wife, Kay. Together they owned and operated Ojai Valley Farms, a first-class equestrian center, until recently when his polygraph career flourished.

Jamie is survived by his loving wife of over 25 years, Kay; loving daughter, Kim Skeeters; sons, Trace Giove and John Skeeters; and four beautiful grandchildren, Trevor, Morgan, Ryan and Melissa.

We deeply grieve the loss of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and love of our life, but find great comfort in knowing he was loved by so many.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to the American Legion Ojai Post No. 482, 843 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023; and/or Oxnard Police Activity League, c/o Officer Ken Klopman Oxnard Police Department, 251 South C St., Oxnard.

A celebration of Jamie’s life will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, with rosary recited immediately following, at Clausen Funeral Home, 316 E. Matilija Ave., Ojai, CA 93023; phone 805-646-1451. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai, CA 93023; phone 805-646-4337.

Arrangements are being handled by Clausen Funeral Home.