Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Orozco, Norma <br />From:Lucy Dale <lucitajd23@gmail.com> <br />Sent:Thursday, June 18, 2020 3:12 PM <br />To:eComment <br />Subject:Item 85A - Creating an Effective Civilian Oversight of the Police Department <br />To whom it may concern, <br /> <br />I am writing to you for the urgent need of Santa Ana to establish an effective Civilian Review Board with the <br />authority to exercise proper oversight and accountability of the Police Department and its officers. In order to <br />have meaningful oversight, it needs to have subpoena power; investigatory authority; disciplinary authority; and <br />the ability to hire and fire officers, including the Chief of Police. Even then, the creation of such an oversight <br />body is the bare minimum the city can do and needs to be part of other efforts to approach public safety by <br />divesting from enforcement and investing in positive community programs that address residents’ needs. <br />Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) is one of the deadliest police departments in the country, and has the <br />highest number of fatal shootings by police officers in Orange County, with 27 fatal shootings in the period <br />between 2006 and 2016.What’s more, From 2016 to 2018, Santa Ana had 13 deadly use of force incidents, 70% <br />higher than all other California Police Departments. In most of these cases, officers did not attempt to address <br />the situation without lethal force.Use of force incidents have cost the city millions in settlements. These <br />settlements are another example of the city’s subsidizing of a failed tough on crime approach to public safety at <br />odds with real community safety which would require robust investment in social services, including mental <br />health, youth programs, housing, and education.The establishment for a police oversight commission has been <br />long overdue. The first demand for police oversight was presented by the Orange County Congress of Racial <br />Equity (CORE) 1965. It's been 55 years since then and the police department has continued to operate without <br />basic oversight and accountability, all while receiving the largest share of our tax dollars. It is time you listen to <br />the decades long demand for effective police oversight, and the current demand to redefine what safety looks <br />like by investing in robust social services, not more policing and suppression. <br /> <br />As a resident of Santa Ana I demand you take action. Thank you. <br /> <br />Lucy Dale <br />1 <br />