SHOW OF FORCE: All the political rhetoric...

SHOW OF FORCE: All the political rhetoric about the crime bill on Capitol Hill has finally produced results back home: Ventura County has been offered enough money to hire 15 new police officers, part of a program to provide 4,700 new cops nationwide (B1). . . . And that could be just the start. The $30-billion program contains money for a variety of community crime prevention programs (A4).

DANGER ZONE: It’s an odd sign to see on public parkland: DANGER ARTILLERY RANGE. But no one is going to be shooting at the Broome Ranch in Newbury Park, except for the producers making a commercial for Rold Gold pretzels. The ad, set to run Super Bowl Sunday, features “Seinfeld” actor Jason Alexander parachuting into an artillery range, says park Ranger Gary Moser. “What a talent,” Moser said. The ranger watched Saturday as a crew set up three new signs and then painted them to look old. Producers are paying park officials $2,700 to use the land for the commercial.

SURF’S UP: The waves that knocked nine pilings off the Ventura pier Monday (B1) also gave surfers a wild ride with breakers as high as 10 feet. “It’s the biggest day of the year, probably two years,” said Keith Neary, after finishing a morning surf session. . . . The waves were generated by a violent storm at sea that stopped about 1,000 miles off the coast. After a long spell of calm seas, surfers can rejoice: There’s another big swell due to hit Wednesday.

GOING TO SEED: From a tiny tomato seed has grown a veritable vegetable empire. Using genetic engineering and old-fashioned cross-pollination, the researchers at Petoseed Co. in Saticoy created seedless watermelons and tomatoes hearty enough to survive diseases that leave other varieties withering on the vine. . . . Now the firm is being merged into a new giant agribusiness firm with branches in 35 countries (Valley Business, Page 9). Officials say the merger should not affect jobs here.