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<br />September 15, 2020 <br /> <br />Mayor Pulido and City Council Members <br />City of Santa Ana <br />22 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> <br />RE: Agenda Item #65a Accept Informational Reports Relating to Police Oversight and <br />Provide Direction to Staff <br /> <br />Dear Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers: <br /> <br />My name is Bulmaro Vicente and I am a lifelong resident of Santa Ana. I urge you to take action <br />and to establish a police oversight commission with the following powers below. Our <br />community has demanded a police oversight commission since 1965, the first request occurring <br />shortly after the Watts Riot. Now, 55 years later, after the death of George Floyd and Black <br />Lives Matter, our community is once again demanding an establishment of such a board. During <br />my undergraduate career at UC Berkeley, I had the privilege of serving two terms as a Police <br />Review Commissioner for the City of Berkeley Police Review Commission. My experience <br />exposed me to the power and limits of civilian oversight. We need strong oversight with teeth, <br />and one that needs to be independent of the police department. <br /> <br />These goals are drawn from good practices and oversight mechanisms in other cities – for <br />example in Chicago, Newark and Oakland. <br /> <br /> <br />1. Independent board membership. <br />a. Board members and staff must be independent and impartial, and be removable only for cause. <br />b. Board members and staff must exclude current and former City, Department, and Association <br />employees and employees of other government entities. <br />c. Board members and staff must include representatives from communities most affected by police <br />practices. <br /> <br />2. Broad scope to review complaints and other incidents. <br />a. Members must be able to investigate and make formal judgments on the most serious issues <br />relating to civil rights and civil liberties, including but not limited to death in custody, deadly or <br />excessive use of force, and abuse of authority. <br />b. Members must have authority to review serious incidents, such as use of force whether or not <br />someone has filed a complaint. <br /> <br />3. Independent investigatory authority. <br />a. The board must have the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, including police <br />disciplinary documents, video and audio footage, and other relevant materials. <br />b. The board must be guaranteed complete and prompt access to all Police Department documents, <br />information, or testimony. <br /> <br />4. Ensuring accountability. <br /> <br />