Correspondence - #38 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Alianza Translatinp cannot change police behavior. Absent clear error,Board/Commission's findings of fact must be binding and accepted by the Police Department and Police Chief. Clear error only exists when the Board/Commission's findings of fact are based upon obvious and indisputable errors and cannot be supported by any reasonable interpretation of the evidence. We urge the Mayor and City Council to take two actions on Agenda Item 38. First,we urge the Council to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to establish the Police Oversight Board/Commission,with the support of community-based organizations,and consider the ordinance before the end of the 2021-22 Fiscal Year. Several City surveys of Santa Ana residents have shown that police oversight has broad support and the effort to establish a strong oversight model must not be delayed further. If the Council considers and approves an ordinance to establish a Board/Commission model before the end of the Fiscal Year,we can begin an implementation process that can take up to a year or longer. In order for the Board/Commission to have the powers that efficacy requires;the City Charter must be amended. The ordinance that establishes the infrastructure of an effective police oversight body can be written and passed in parallel with the efforts to amend the Charter. To that end,we also recommend that the Council direct staff to prepare a Charter amendment,to be submitted to voters at the November 2022 election,that authorizes the Board to impose discipline upon the Chief of Police and Santa Ana Police Department officers for cause. The Charter amendment should also enshrine a sustainable budget to fully fund the Board/Commission with public safety funds derived from cost-savings measures from the Police Department budget. The consideration of an ordinance and Charter amendment must happen concurrently to ensure police oversight is promptly enacted and that residents of the City of Santa Ana are empowered to remediate and prevent police violence. Sincerely, Khloe Rios-Wyatt President/CEO Alianza Translatinx CC: VSarmientoksanta-ana.org PBacerraksanta-ana.org TPhanksanta-ana.org DPenalozaksanta-ana.org JessieLopezkSanta-ana.org JRyanHernande zksanta-ana.org NMendoza(cr�,santa-ana.org '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.