Honoring the Irish : Ventura Dedicates Its St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Slain Detective

For the last five years, Catherine Stinson has sat on the curb of Ventura’s Main Street to watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. But this year, she peered at the colorful floats and bands from a different vantage point--a wheelchair.

Three months after being shot eight times in the legs during a Ventura gunman’s deadly rampage at an unemployment office in Oxnard, Stinson took a break from her rehabilitation to attend the Saturday event, which was dedicated to slain Police Detective James O’Brien.

“I’m honored that I’m alive to be here to honor him,� said Stinson, a Port Hueneme resident who worked as a claims representative at the state jobs office. “Jim had a love for life. He was involved in the community. He was doing a community service when he was killed.�

The Oxnard detective was one of four Ventura County residents killed Dec. 3 when Alan Winterbourne, an unemployed computer engineer, opened fire in the Oxnard office. Winterbourne was then killed by Ventura police.

O’Brien was posthumously named grand marshal of this year’s parade.

Stinson, 40, clapped and cheered as the floats, some decorated with green shamrocks and others blaring Irish folk music, traveled up Main Street in downtown Ventura.

Cheering beside her was O’Brien’s mother, Patricia, and members of the O’Brien family, who had led the parade’s 72 entries.

“We were all honored, the whole O’Brien clan,� said Patricia O’Brien, who joined Stinson to watch the parade after the lead car had traveled the six-block route. “We have always come to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the whole family. We’d sit on the curb. It’s a good day for the Irish.�

Patricia O’Brien felt that the clear blue skies and warm temperatures were her son’s contribution to the day’s festivities. “I think he had something to do with this weather today.�

O’Brien’s widow, Leslie, and their two children, Katie and Sean, waved to the several thousand onlookers from a convertible Mustang driven by one of O’Brien’s former partners.

Leslie O’Brien said appearing in the parade was difficult, but rewarding.

“We were really happy to see how many people were out there,� she said.

Parade committee member Nan Drake said the choice of O’Brien was natural.

“There’s been a groundswell of support in memory of him,� she said. “I knew that Jim was very proud of his Irish heritage.�

Oxnard Police Department officers were pleased with the decision to acknowledge their friend and co-worker.

“He deserves all the recognition,� said Oxnard Police Department bicycle Officer Cliff Waer. “They’ve honored heroes today and he was a true hero. It’s definitely fitting.�

The theme of this year’s parade was “Our Fighting Irish Heroes--Dedicated to Those Who Protect and Serve.�

Waer said O’Brien would have enjoyed the event.

“He would have had a lot of fun,� Waer said. “He loved being Irish.�

Members of the Oxnard and Ventura police departments were out in force Saturday, and the motorcycle stunt team from the Bakersfield Police Department drew cheers and gasps from green-clad spectators as team members sped up and down Main Street.

Four Ventura County high school bands--Ventura, Buena, Santa Paula and Oxnard--marched down the parade route. And veteran entrants like the Claddagh School of Irish Dance and a 20-foot inflatable green pig gave a touch of the Eire to the day as well.

Parade coordinators were thrilled with the response to this year’s event, which they said drew more people than ever before.

“We got a nice turnout,� said parade co-founder Larry Dinneen, who donned his favorite green hat for the event. “It’s a good feeling. We started it just for enjoyment. It’s worked out real well.�

Of the thousands of people who lined Main Street, some looked as if they belonged in the parade rather than watching it.

Ventura resident Glen Watson wore a green suit and faux red beard and touted himself as the only leprechaun there.

“You got to get into the spirit,� he said. Watson has donned his St. Patrick’s Day costume for the parade the past three years.

Betty Orick canvassed the parade route selling green T-shirts with a caricature of O’Brien on the back. Only half an hour after the parade started, Orick said she had sold nearly 70 shirts.

“I think everyone wants to have one because it’s so special this year,� she said.

Oxnard resident Frank Tom was an eager customer.

“I think that man with the picture on there paid the price, and I think he deserves this,� Tom said.

One group of spectators from the San Fernando Valley wore headbands with tiny green pinwheels on top that spun rapidly when the wind picked up. This was the sixth year the Valley residents trekked to Ventura for the parade.

“We’re all from earthquake country--anything to get out of the area,� said Julie Wolf. “A lot of us are Irish. The Irish do love a party.�

The winners of this year’s parade were:

* Social Services: First place, district attorney; second place, Ventura Fire Department/City Council.

* Business and Commercial: First place, The King and I; second place, Bombay Bar & Grill.

* Equestrian: First place, U.S. Marshal’s Posse; second place, Sharon and Jennifer Lindsay.

* Clubs and Organizations: First place, Claddagh School of Irish Dancing; second place, Bakersfield Police Department.

* Individual: First place, Firestone for Assembly; second place, Noel Kelly Tractor.

* Music: First place, St. Patrick’s Drum Corps; second place, Boys & Girls Club.

* Sweepstakes: King and I float.