Security at Cowboys-Raiders Oxnard practices beefed up because of gang concerns

August 12, 2014

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The Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys will have joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cowboys’ River Ridge training camp facility in Oxnard, Calif., leading the city to beef up their security because of gang concerns.

Oxnard, which is located in Ventura County and northwest of Los Angeles, is known for having multiple gangs. Two in particular have adopted colors and logos of the respective football teams, leading security to worry about potential clashes.

As the Ventura County Star wrote, the Colonia Chiques wear Cowboys gear, while the Southside Chiques wear Raiders gear. There is extra security in the area to try to ensure nothing bad happens between the fans when the teams practice.

Oxnard beefs up security for Cowboys-Raiders practices http://t.co/9cxpFeyr4U pic.twitter.com/1sCrKLw82z

— Ventura County Star (@vcstar) August 12, 2014

From the VC Star:

The security presence in and around the River Ridge complex will be greatly increased with more uniformed officers, parole officers and probation officers.

The staff working at daily practices already includes volunteers with regular jobs at state penitentiaries, prisons and other correctional facilities.

The Star says the Cowboys are paying for 60 percent of the increased security, while the city of Oxnard is paying for the rest.

Not only is this a matter of rival gangs and football fans, but it’s also a turf war; the Raiders used to train at River Ridge back when they were based out of Los Angeles before moving to Oakland. And because LA does not have a football team, there are many Cowboys fans in the area.

Dallas Morning News Cowboys reporter Brandon George took note of the increased security and even said there were a lot of bullet-proof vests:

The police are out in full force today for Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders practices. Even bullet-proof vests are in full force.

— Brandon George (@DMN_George) August 12, 2014

Hasn't been much police/security around Dallas Cowboys training camp first 19 days in Oxnard. But not so today with Oakland Raiders here.

— Brandon George (@DMN_George) August 12, 2014

Raiders fans are notorious for being rowdy, so this should not come as much of a surprise. A few years ago an LA bar had to stop airing their games because Raiders fans were causing too many problems.

The good news is the city of Oxnard was well prepared for this.