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Alianza .� Translatinp April 5, 2022 Santa Ana Mayor and City Council 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 ecommentksanta-ana.org Via Email RE: Agenda Item 38 "Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee Informational Report" Dear Mayor and City Council, I write on behalf of Alianza Translatinx to express our strong support for a robust Police Oversight model in the City of Santa Ana. Alianza TransLatinx(ATL) is the very first trans led organization in Orange County addressing the needs of the local transgender community. Since its inception in 2020 ATL has been intentional in creating programs specifically designed and informed by the local transgender community to support other members of the trans community in most need.ATL is based in Santa Ana California and is located at 206 W. Fourth St. Suite 420 in Santa Ana California. The mission of our organization is to protect, defend and advocate for the needs and the rights of the transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC)Latinx community as well as other marginalized communities. Our vision is to uplift disproportionate TGNC communities of color through education, community empowerment, and social justice so that we can ensure and foster community inclusion and unity. The core purposes of civilian-led oversight of law enforcement are to increase transparency, ensure accountability for misconduct,and expand public safety. Given the nationwide and local civic engagement for racial justice and the reimagining of the role of police,the City of Santa Ana's effort to examine police oversight models is an important step forward. Since 2017, Santa Ana community-based organizations have advocated for a police oversight model that is independent of law enforcement, community-led,transparent, fully funded, and empowered with auditing, investigative, and disciplinary authority.We believe the City Council Ad Hoc Committee's majority recommendation for a hybrid investigation-focused and auditor/monitor-focused model and the outlined oversight functions provide the infrastructure for a meaningful and effective police oversight model. To ensure the full and prompt implementation of such a model,we urge the Mayor and City Council to direct staff to (1)prepare an ordinance to establish the oversight model to be considered by City Council before the end of the 2021-22 Fiscal Year and(2)prepare a Charter amendment to further strengthen the authority of the police oversight Board/Commission,to be submitted to voters at the November 2022 election. When high-profile police killings occur locally or nationwide, calls for police accountability and transparency grow louder. In fact,the very origins and advancements of police oversight are rooted in 'Ridge,K. (2022).Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee Informational Report. Santa Ana City Manager's Office. httl)s:Hsanta-ana.l)rimegov.com/l)ortal/viewer?id=2579&type=O 2 Vitoroulis,Michael, Cameron McEllhiney,and Liana Perez. 2021. The Evolution and Growth of Civilian Oversight:Key Principles and Practices for Effectiveness and Sustainability.Washington,DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.