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ACW <br /> AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION <br /> FOUNDATION <br /> Southern California <br /> April 5, 2022 <br /> Mayor Sarmiento and City Councilmembers <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza <br /> Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> ecommentg,santa-ana.org <br /> Via Email <br /> RE: Agenda Item 38 "Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee Informational Report" <br /> Dear Mayor Sanniento and City Councilmembers, <br /> I write on behalf of the ACLU of Southern California to express our strong support for a robust <br /> police oversight model in the City of Santa Ana. It is imperative that the City Council heed the <br /> will of the community and the majority recommendations of the City Council Ad Hoc <br /> Committee by adopting a hybrid investigation-focused and auditor and monitor-focused model <br /> of oversight. Accordingly, we urge the Mayor and City Councilmembers to direct staff to (1) <br /> prepare a civilian oversight ordinance that will be considered by the Council before the end of <br /> the 2021-22 fiscal year and (2)prepare a Charter amendment to further strengthen the authority <br /> of the Police Oversight Commission (Commission), which will be submitted to voters at the <br /> November 2022 election. <br /> Community-Led Calls for Civilian Oversight in Santa Ana <br /> Since 2017, Santa Ana community-based organizations have advocated for a police oversight <br /> model that is independent of law enforcement, community-led,transparent, fully funded, and <br /> empowered with auditing, investigative, and disciplinary authority. Recent police murders both <br /> locally and nationwide, including the most recent murder of Santa Ana resident Brandon Lopez <br /> by the Anaheim Police Department,have served to strengthen the community's calls for police <br /> accountability and transparency through oversight. We are at a critical moment, and it is <br /> imperative that the City of Santa Ana build an effective police oversight model to help <br /> avert future unjustified use of deadly force against civilians, hold police officers <br /> accountable for misconduct, and intervene in systemic problems within the Santa Ana <br /> Police Department. As discussed in further detail below, a hybrid investigation-focused and <br /> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hector 0.Villagra <br /> CHAIR Michele Goodwin VICE CHAIRS Rob Hennig and Stacy Horth-Neubert <br /> CHAIRS EMERITI Marla Stone Shari Leinwand Stephen Rohde Danny Goldberg Allan K.Jonas' Burt Lancaster' Irving Lichtenstein,MD' <br /> Jarl Mohn Laurie Ostrow' Stanley K.Sheinbaum' <br /> "deceased <br /> ORANGE COUNTY OFFICE•765 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 360•ORANGE, CA 92868•T 714.450.3962•F 714.583.8046•ACLUSOCAL.ORG <br />