UnderSheriff Mark Ball
Undersheriff Mark Ball graduated from the Sheriff’s Training Academy in 1976, and transferred from a neighboring law enforcement agency to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department in 1980. During his 30 years with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, he has worked in every division, and during his career he has served in the capacity of the sworn manager in charge the Personnel Bureau, Branch Jail Honor Farm, the Pretrial Detention Facility and the West County Patrol Bureau.
After his promotion to Chief Deputy in April 2008, Undersheriff Ball oversaw the Department’s Support Services Division, which includes the Business Office, Training Academy, Professional Standards Bureau, Record Bureau, Personnel and Human Resources. In August 2008, Undersheriff Ball was transferred to the Detention Services Division where he was responsible for the operations of three jail facilities and court security.
In June of 2009, he was appointed to the rank of Undersheriff by Sheriff Bob Brooks. Undersheriff Ball oversees a $225 million dollar budget and a 1,200 person department with 750 sworn peace officers. His responsibilities include the coordination of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s four divisions – Detention Services, Patrol Services, Special Services and Support Services. These four divisions comprise a wide array of services including the jails, court security, five patrol contract cities, disaster preparedness, the Air Unit and Search and Rescue.
Undersheriff Ball also serves as the Department’s liaison with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the purchase of equipment and other duty performance enhancing items that are not otherwise provided by funds from the County of Ventura’s budget.
Undersherff Ball has lived in the City of Ojai for the majority of his life, and currently resides there with his wife and his daughter.