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Orozco, Norma From:PSV <jmil481@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, June 18, 2020 1:51 PM To:eComment Subject:Police Oversight Commission On Agenda 6/18/2020 To The City of Santa Ana Mayor and City Council Re: Police Oversight Commission June 18, 2020 To the Mayor, and City Council: I live in Ward 4 and I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for this opportunity to communicate with you in this way. I appreciate all that you are doing for our City, and for listening to your constituents' views, opinions, suggestions and complaints. Your hard work and long hours have not gone unnoticed by me. th I listened to the entire council meeting on the 16. After hearing the hurt and desperately angry comments of Santa Ana residents expressed over how police are interacting with the community, I think it is time for a commission to hear the people, particularly in light of the BLM protests. About 25 years ago in Santa Ana we had terrible police relationships. Under Chief Walter’s, programs for the community’s children were set up to tear down the fears people had about the police, particularly with young school- age children. As I understood it, the thinking was that if relationships could be improved early in life, relationships with the police might be improved as these kids grew up. Frankly, I think it was good for the police too! One particular event I remember was a street fair where Vons is located on South Bristol Street. There were ladder fire trucks, police vehicles, a helicopter, and even a tank kids could climb in and out of and explore, which was a big hit! and face painting and I think, donated food booths. I took a 5 year old, whose family was desperately poor, to the Vons fair. I have pictures of him climbing all over the tank, fire truck, and police car AND pictures with police officers. He also had an American Flag painted on his face (his choice), and to this day, that picture is treasured by his family and by him. He had a ball! Unfortunately, that little boy is now grown up, and his life is a revolving door in and out of jail and prison. I wish I could tell his story of what happened early in his life that caused him to never trust the police again, and I feel contributed to his life of repeat incarceration. These are stories you will never hear, because parents will never come forward – they harbor their distrust of the police and it festers and is handed down to the next generation. They don’t “see” the good cops, even though they are there. It is very tragic. I’ve been mentoring families and children for 28 years, and at one point, these-get-to-know you events were cancelled because of budget, and then everything went downhill, AGAIN! The families I know have become like my own family. And many have expressed to me the fears and distrust of the police. When I heard the voices of hurt, angry and th scared callers on the 16, I could relate. They were really brave to speak up. It was hard for them, and I don’t think you can realize that unless you talk with them in person, privately. To fully understand what is happening in our community with these generationally handed down fears and experiences, I feel there needs to be the confidential component to any commission. I personally know of people who will absolutely not come forward for fear of being targeted or retaliated against. HOWEVER, having talked with some, they may come to a confidential commission. 1